Report: TikTok confirms layoffs in Malaysia due to global workforce cuts

PETALING JAYA, Oct 11 — TikTok has confirmed layoffs at its Malaysian facility as part of a broader global workforce reduction, a company spokesperson said Free Malaysia today (FMT).

The exact number of affected employees remains unclear due to varying local labor regulations, although the spokesperson noted that “several hundred people will be affected globally.”

The decision comes as TikTok continues to improve its content moderation efforts.

“We expect to invest $2 billion globally in trust and security by 2024 alone and continue to improve the effectiveness of our efforts, with 80 percent of infringing content now removed by automated technologies,” the spokesperson told FMT.

According to FMT, a news report quoting a source reported that more than 500 employees, mainly involved in content moderation, received termination emails from TikTok Malaysia.

The dismissals follow earlier reports in May CNNwhich highlighted TikTok’s plans to reduce its global operations and marketing teams.

TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, has seen staff cuts in other regions as well.

In June, Bloomberg reported that the company has laid off 450 employees in Indonesia after acquiring a local e-commerce company.

Despite the recent layoffs, ByteDance announced in June that it plans to invest RM10 billion in Malaysia to build the country into a regional hub for artificial intelligence.