KUALA LUMPUR: TikTok, the social media platform owned by China’s ByteDance, has announced layoffs affecting hundreds of employees worldwide, including a significant number in Malaysia, as it moves towards increased reliance on AI for content moderation. While initial reports suggested over 700 positions were cut in Malaysia, TikTok later clarified that fewer than 500 employees were impacted.

Most of the affected staff were involved in content moderation and received dismissal notifications via email on Wednesday, according to anonymous sources familiar with the matter. In a statement responding to media queries, TikTok confirmed the layoffs, stating they are part of a broader strategy to enhance its moderation system.

The company, which uses both automated systems and human moderators, employs over 110,000 people globally across 200 locations. TikTok also plans additional job cuts next month as it consolidates regional operations, a source added.

A TikTok spokesperson explained that these changes aim to reinforce their global operating model for content moderation. This year, the company plans to invest $2 billion in trust and safety measures, and currently, 80% of content that violates guidelines is removed by automated systems.

The news comes as Malaysia increases regulatory pressure on tech firms, requiring social media operators to obtain an operating license by January to help curb cyber offenses. The layoffs were first reported by The Malaysian Reserve on Thursday.

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