UK MPs Urged to Probe TikTok’s Plan to Cut 439 Moderator Jobs

Fears Rise Over Online Safety and Workers’ Rights Amid Major Staff Redundancies

TikTok is facing growing criticism following plans to cut 439 content moderator jobs in its London trust and safety team. Trade unions, online safety experts and campaigners have urged Members of Parliament to investigate the company’s move, warning that the decision could severely impact the safety of online users, especially children.

Unions Call for Urgent Investigation
The Trades Union Congress (TUC), the Communication Workers Union (CWU), and several online safety advocates have jointly signed an open letter to Chi Onwurah MP Chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee. The letter calls for a parliamentary inquiry into the proposed redundancies, stressing that these moderators play a vital role in protecting users from harmful content, misinformation, and online abuse.

Children’s Safety at Risk
According to the letter, the job cuts could increase children’s exposure to harmful material. The UK’s data regulator estimates that about 1.4 million TikTok users in the country are under 13, despite age restrictions on the platform. With TikTok’s UK user base exceeding 30 million, the unions warn that losing human moderators will leave younger audiences more vulnerable to toxic and misleading content.

Frontline Defenders Against Digital Harm
“These safety-critical workers are the frontline of protecting users and communities from deepfakes, toxicity, and abuse,” the letter stated. It emphasizes that human moderators remain essential for detecting nuanced online threats that artificial intelligence systems might overlook.

AI and Outsourcing Concerns

The letter further claims that TikTok intends to replace its UK moderators with AI-driven systems and offshore workers in countries such as Kenya and the Philippines. Critics argue this move would compromise both quality control and workers’ rights, with automation failing to match the sensitivity required in content moderation.

Accusations of Union-Busting
The unions also accused TikTok of trying to suppress employee unionization efforts by announcing the redundancies just eight days before staff were scheduled to vote on recognizing the CWU’s tech branch. “There is no proper business case for these redundancies,” the letter argued. “TikTok’s revenues are booming with a 40 percent increase for the UK and Europe alone. This is an act of union-busting at the cost of workers’ rights, user safety, and the integrity of online information.”

Prominent Figures Join the Appeal
Among the letter’s signatories are Ian Russell, father of Molly Russell the teenager whose death highlighted the dangers of harmful online content Meta whistleblower Arturo Bejar and Professor Sonia Livingstone of the London School of Economics. Their inclusion underscores the broader social and emotional weight behind the appeal to protect online users.

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MPs Demand Accountability from TikTok
Responding to the call, Chi Onwurah MP expressed concern that TikTok’s decision contradicted its previous statements to Parliament about maintaining strong content moderation. “Given the role TikTok’s algorithms play in exposing users to large amounts of harmful and misleading content, this announcement is troubling,” she said. “TikTok told the committee of its commitment to protecting users and employees. How does this align with such major job cuts?”

TikTok Defends Its Restructuring
In response, TikTok strongly rejected the accusations. A company spokesperson explained that the redundancies are part of a global reorganization effort that began last year to improve operational efficiency and adapt to technological advancements. “We are concentrating our trust and safety operations in fewer global locations to maximize effectiveness,” the spokesperson said.

Future Discussions Ahead
TikTok added that it has been voluntarily engaging with the CWU and is willing to continue discussions after the redundancy consultations conclude. However, unions insist that the move threatens to undermine user safety and fair labor practices, urging MPs to consider new laws that prevent the offshoring of moderation work and the unchecked rise of AI in safeguarding online spaces.

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