TikTok’s plan to eliminate 439 content moderation positions in London has prompted calls for a parliamentary investigation amid concerns over safety and allegations of union-busting. The Chinese-owned video platform is facing scrutiny from UK lawmakers, as trade unions and online safety experts warn that the cuts could compromise user protection.

The Guardian reports that Labour MP Chi Onwurah, Chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, expressed concern that TikTok’s commitment to content moderation appears to be “under review.” Onwurah questioned how the redundancies align with TikTok’s recent statements to her committee regarding the upholding of safety standards.

“Given the clear role that the recommendation algorithms used by TikTok and other platforms play in exposing users to large volumes of harmful and misleading content, this is a matter of significant concern,” Onwurah said in a statement.

The job reductions form part of a global reorganization of TikTok’s Trust and Safety operations that began last year. The platform confirms that it aims to concentrate its operations in fewer locations globally, while increasing its reliance on artificial intelligence for content review.

According to company data, automated systems already identify and remove 85% of content that violates community guidelines. TikTok maintains that this approach helps “reduce how often human reviewers are exposed to distressing footage” while improving moderation efficiency.

Union and Safety Expert Opposition

The Trades Union Congress, Communication Workers Union, and prominent online safety advocates have submitted an open letter urging a parliamentary investigation. The letter warns that children could be exposed to harmful content, noting that the UK data watchdog estimates up to 1.4 million of TikTok’s 30 million UK users are under the age of 13.

Signatories include Ian Russell, father of Molly Russell, Meta whistleblower Arturo Bejar, and LSE professor Sonia Livingstone. They expressed concern that TikTok plans to replace UK moderators with AI systems and workers in countries such as Kenya and the Philippines.

The letter claims the redundancy announcement, made eight days before workers were scheduled to vote on union recognition with the CWU’s tech branch, constitutes union-busting.

“There is no proper business case for making these redundancies. TikTok’s revenues are booming – with a 40% increase for the UK and Europe alone,” the letter reads. “Yet the company has decided to cut corners.”

Part of Broader European Pattern

The UK reductions follow similar workforce changes across Europe. TikTok dismissed its entire team of 300 content moderators in the Netherlands in September 2024, while content moderators in Berlin staged a one-day strike in July 2025 to protest the replacement of approximately 150 employees with AI systems.

TikTok has refuted the criticism, stating: “We strongly reject these claims. We are continuing a reorganization that we started last year to strengthen our global operating model for Trust and Safety, ensuring we maximize effectiveness and speed as we evolve this critical function with the benefit of technological advancements.”

Checkout Our Latest Podcast