Loss of up to 300 Irish jobs at TikTok will have 'knock-on impact' on user safety, warns union

Some 300 jobs are currently at risk at TikTok's European hub in Dublin

The tech firm, owned by ByteDance, has outlined plans to restructure the country’s AI data service and operations team and consolidate quality assurance activities into other regional hubs. Photographer: Ore Huiying/Bloomberg

The trade union representing a growing number of employees at the Irish arm of TikTok has said the planned 300 job cuts will have a significant knock-on impact on the safety of users on the platform. 

The Communications Workers' Union (CWU) has called on the tech giant to significantly reduce the number of job losses at its Dublin hub and has written an open letter to emphasise the necessity for properly resourced trust and safety departments in companies like TikTok, as well as calling for greater regulatory oversight of the platform.

The tech firm, owned by ByteDance, has outlined plans to restructure the country’s AI data service and operations team and consolidate quality assurance activities into other regional hubs.

A spokesperson for TikTok said some at-risk staff would be offered other positions and that the proposed restructuring would also create new roles, leading to an overall headcount reduction of about 300. Dublin is a hub for TikTok’s trust and safety operations, including content moderation and data protection.

While TikTok is pushing outsourcing and AI tools as the future of platform safety, the CWU said only quality jobs can provide the level of rapid policy response, moderation oversight, and overall safety that are required on the platform. 

“[TikTok’s] safety practices are already under formal investigation on several fronts: by the European Commission over its addictive design, its protection of minors and its handling of election risk, and by national authorities in Ireland, France and Spain over illegal content, child protection and the effect of its algorithm on young users,” the CWU wrote. 

"When workers are negatively impacted, that impact is felt by civil society organisations, governments, businesses, and users. This is an issue that will have ramifications across Europe.”

In November, media regulator Coimisiún na Meán launched investigations into TikTok over concerns the platforms may have breached online safety rules.

In addition, preliminary findings from an EU investigation indicated that TikTok did not adequately assess how addictive features such as infinite scroll, autoplay and highly personalised recommendations could harm the physical and mental wellbeing of its users, including minors and vulnerable adults.

Commenting on the layoffs, CWU General secretary Sean McDonagh said: “In light of ongoing debates around platform safety, particularly when it comes to vulnerable users, it is vital that those in positions of influence within civil society confirm their support for this open letter from our members. 

"The working conditions of our members directly translate to the safety concerns being demanded of big tech companies by everyone from government to parents.

"There is increasing frustration in Ireland and throughout Europe at the apparent weakness of our regulatory bodies when it comes to the operations of big tech. If the Irish Government wishes to maintain its credibility as a fair and impartial actor in matters of tech policy for its European Presidency, this opportunity to support trust and safety workers at TikTok is a decisive moment for them.”