LONDON

TikTok is planning to lay off hundreds of staff in the UK who moderate content on the platform, moving the work to other European offices as it invests in artificial intelligence (AI) to scale up moderation, according to BBC.

"We are continuing a reorganization that we started last year to strengthen our global operating model for Trust and Safety, which includes concentrating our operations in fewer locations globally," a TikTok spokesperson told the BBC.

However, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) criticized the move.

CWU National Officer for Tech John Chadfield said: "TikTok workers have long been sounding the alarm over the real-world costs of cutting human moderation teams in favor of hastily developed, immature AI alternatives."

He added that the cuts had been announced "just as the company's workers are about to vote on having their union recognized."

TikTok said it would "maximize effectiveness and speed as we evolve this critical function for the company with the benefit of technological advancements."

The layoffs affect staff in London and hundreds more in Asia, with impacted employees able to apply for other internal roles.

The announcement comes as the UK increases content safety requirements under the Online Safety Act, which allows fines of up to 10% of a company’s global turnover for non-compliance.

TikTok recently introduced new parental controls, but the UK data watchdog has launched a "major investigation" into the company.