ByteDance, the parent company of the social media platform TikTok, has announced plans to lay off more than 700 workers from its Malaysian unit as part of a restructuring initiative towards greater use of artificial intelligence in content moderation.
According to reports, the layoffs are part of a broader plan to improve its moderation operations as the company plans to invest up to $2 billion USD globally in trust and safety this year to enhance efficiency, with 80% of guideline-violating content now removed by automated technologies.
The report further mentions that global tech firms face greater regulatory pressure in Malaysia, where the government has asked social media operators to apply for an operating license by January as part of an effort to combat cyber offenses.
