X
Symbolic Photo
Short video platform TikTok is restructuring its global content moderation operations, with plans to eliminate hundreds of human moderator positions and expand the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to review harmful content across the platform.
The layoffs will affect employees in several regions, including Singapore, other parts of Asia, Indonesia, and Dublin, Ireland. The company said the move is part of a broader effort to strengthen its global operating model for trust and safety.
According to local media reports in Singapore, employees in the trust and safety division were informed of the job cuts via email. One affected worker said around 20 people in their department were notified, creating uncertainty among staff. It remains unclear whether additional teams will also face reductions.
Earlier this month, TikTok confirmed that it would reduce roles within its trust and safety unit, which is responsible for reviewing content and ensuring compliance with laws and platform policies in different countries.
The company’s Indonesian office has also been impacted by the restructuring. TikTok said it is realigning its research and development operations along with its creator and seller community teams, although it has not disclosed how many employees will be affected.
In Ireland, TikTok is expected to eliminate around 300 positions from its Dublin office as part of the same reorganization.
The restructuring comes as TikTok increases its reliance on AI-powered moderation tools. The company says AI removed 97% of harmful content detected between January and April this year, with 99% of that content taken down before it was viewed by users.
Despite those figures, some current and former content moderators have questioned whether AI is ready to fully replace human reviewers. They argue that automated systems still make errors and are not yet reliable enough to handle complex moderation decisions at a large scale.
This is not the first time TikTok has faced criticism over replacing human moderators with AI. In 2025, employees at the company’s Berlin office staged protests after TikTok announced plans to cut around 150 trust and safety jobs. German trade union Ver.di warned at the time that reducing human oversight could increase risks for users and complicate the platform’s compliance with local regulations.
The latest restructuring reflects a broader trend across the technology industry, where companies are increasingly adopting AI to streamline operations while reducing workforce costs.
