"The letter warns the cuts could expose children to harmful content, citing estimates from the UK's data watchdog that up to 1.4 million TikTok users are under 13. TikTok has more than 30 million UK users. These safety-critical workers are the frontline of protecting users and communities from deepfakes, toxicity and abuse, the letter said. It also claims that TikTok is looking to replace the moderators with artificial intelligence-driven systems and with workers in countries such as Kenya and the Philippines."
"The signatories also accuse Chinese-owned TikTok of union-busting by announcing the job cuts eight days before workers were due to vote on union recognition with the CWU's tech branch. 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 said. Yet the company has decided to cut corners."
TikTok plans 439 redundancies in its London trust and safety team. The Trades Union Congress, Communication Workers Union and online-safety experts have asked MP Chi Onwurah to seek an investigation by the science, innovation and technology committee. The groups warn the cuts could expose children to harmful content, citing the UK data watchdog's estimate that up to 1.4 million TikTok users are under 13 among more than 30 million UK users. Safety-critical moderators are described as the frontline defending against deepfakes, toxicity and abuse, and TikTok is said to be replacing moderators with AI systems and overseas workers. Unions accuse TikTok of union-busting by announcing cuts eight days before a union-recognition vote amid 40% regional revenue growth, and signatories include Ian Russell, Arturo Bejar and Sonia Livingstone.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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