TikTok’s AI-Driven Moderation Shift Puts UK Safety Teams at Risk

TikTok is reducing its UK moderation workforce as it shifts toward AI-driven content enforcement, raising concerns about compliance with safety regulations. Automated systems now handle over 85% of guideline violations, diminishing the role of human moderators.

The MOVE aligns with ByteDance’s global restructuring, centralizing trust and safety operations while relying on artificial intelligence for content moderation. Human teams, once critical to enforcement, are being sidelined or relocated to consolidated European offices and third-party providers.

New UK online safety laws demand stricter oversight, casting doubt on whether AI alone can meet regulatory standards. Similar layoffs in the Netherlands and Malaysia, alongside strikes in Germany, underscore an industry-wide pivot to automation.

TikTok’s financial strategy appears to benefit from the shift. The company reported a 38% surge in UK and European revenue to $6.3 billion in 2024, with operating losses narrowing to $485 million. AI-driven efficiencies are becoming central to its business model.