TikTok has announced a major restructure of its trust and safety operations, putting several hundred UK jobs at risk. The Chinese-owned company plans to concentrate its operations in fewer global locations, reallocating some work to other European offices and third-party providers while retaining a portion of roles in the UK. The firm currently employs more than 2,500 staff in Britain and is set to open a new office in the Barbican, London, next year.
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The move comes as TikTok increasingly relies on artificial intelligence (AI) to moderate content. The platform reports that over 85% of material removed for breaching community guidelines is now flagged by AI. This shift aims to reduce the exposure of moderation teams to distressing or graphic content while improving operational efficiency.
The restructure coincides with the UK’s Online Safety Act, which came into force last month under Ofcom. The legislation requires online platforms to protect users from illegal material, including child sexual abuse and extreme pornography, and to prevent children from accessing harmful content. TikTok’s moderation teams are trained to identify underage accounts, supported by AI systems that detect relevant signals such as keywords and user reports.
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The Communication Workers Union has criticised TikTok’s plans, warning that cutting human moderators in favour of AI could put British users at risk. The union highlighted ongoing concerns about the safety and well-being of staff during the company’s efforts to form a union, calling for a careful approach to the transition towards AI-driven moderation.
