"TikTok moderators issue warnings to users, expressing concerns about potential risks due to recent job cuts"
In a move that has sparked controversy, TikTok, the popular social media platform, is reportedly planning to make hundreds of moderators redundant in Berlin. This decision comes as part of a global reorganisation that started last year.
However, TikTok strongly rejects these claims, stating that the global decisions around redundancy are not related to discussions with the trade union. The company plans to replace the content moderation work in Berlin with artificial intelligence trained by the outgoing staff, and has even posted a new job with the same description in London.
This shift from human moderators to AI seems to be a strategy TikTok is employing, rather than outsourcing the moderation to another firm. It's worth noting that TikTok has also faced redundancies in its Dublin moderation office.
The Communication Workers' Union (CWU) has accused TikTok of union-busting, as the redundancies were announced around a week before a union recognition vote. John Chadfield, the national officer for tech workers at the CWU, mentioned that TikTok pulled the union recognition ballot and announced the job cuts at a coincidental time.
The CWU and TikTok moderators believe the current redundancies are a sham. They argue that the increase in harmful content on the app could be a potential consequence of hundreds of moderator redundancies in the UK. One TikTok moderator, who asked to remain anonymous, stated that they wouldn't let their children use the app due to concerns about the job cuts leading to worse moderation.
The protest against TikTok's redundancies occurred in Berlin, a day before US TikTok users were due to learn about the app's future in the States. President Trump will speak to Chinese president Xi Jinping on Friday to finalize a deal that could see TikTok in the US separated from parent company ByteDance over security concerns.
Despite the controversy, TikTok has been engaging with the trade union voluntarily, offering to continue discussions once the current collective consultation has concluded. The company is reorganising its Trust and Safety operations to strengthen its global model, including concentrating operations in fewer locations and utilising technological advancements.
However, concerns remain about the potential offshoring of jobs to pay less elsewhere, potentially putting users at risk. As the situation unfolds, it's clear that TikTok's decisions are being closely scrutinised by both its workforce and users alike.
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