PETALING JAYA: Short video app TikTok has confirmed reports of layoffs in Malaysia as part of a global workforce reduction.
A spokesman from the company said today: “We are unable to give a precise figure at this time, owing to varying local employment regulation processes around the world.
"We anticipate that several hundred people will be impacted globally."
The spokesman said the decision aligns with TikTok’s ongoing efforts to enhance its content moderation capabilities.
"We expect to invest US$2 billion globally in trust and safety in 2024 alone and are continuing to improve the efficacy of our efforts, with 80% of violative content now removed by automated technologies."
Yesterday, a news portal reported that TikTok, owned by Chinese firm ByteDance, had let go of "hundreds of employees" in its Malaysian branch.
Citing a source, the report indicated that more than 500 individuals received termination emails, with most working in content moderation roles on the platform.
In May, CNN reported that TikTok was planning to reduce a significant portion of its global operations and marketing workforce.
The global layoffs are expected to affect teams responsible for user support, communications, content, and marketing.
In June, Bloomberg reported ByteDance laid off 450 staff at its Indonesian unit following the acquisition of a local e-commerce firm, which was integrated into TikTok’s operations.
That same month, the Chinese firm announced plans to invest RM10 billion in Malaysia to establish the country as a regional hub for artificial intelligence.
