TikTok is preparing to cut jobs in its trust and safety teams in the United Kingdom sparking criticism from unions who warn the move could undermine user protection.

The affected staff oversee content moderation, a function unions argue is essential to safeguarding TikTok’s millions of British users.

However, internal figures show the company is increasingly relying on artificial intelligence to police its platform, according to Sky News.

More than 85 per cent of videos removed for breaching community standards are now flagged by automated tools, while 99 per cent of harmful content is detected and deleted before users report it.

Executives maintain the shift is not just about efficiency but also employee welfare.

They say AI tools have reduced the exposure of moderators to disturbing material, with the volume of graphic videos viewed by staff dropping 60 per cent since the technology was introduced.

The dispute underscores growing tensions in the tech sector as platforms balance cost-cutting measures with responsibilities to keep their communities safe.

The Communication Workers Union said the layoffs “appear to represent a major cut to the platform’s crucial moderation workforce.”

In a statement, it warned: “Alongside concerns ranging from workplace stress to a lack of clarity over questions such as pay scales and office attendance policy, workers have also raised concerns over the quality of AI in content moderation, believing such ‘alternatives’ to human work to be too vulnerable and ineffective to maintain TikTok user safety.”

The union’s national tech officer, John Chadfield, said members are concerned the AI tools replacing human moderators are “immature and hastily built.”

He further alleged that the redundancies were announced only a week before staff were scheduled to vote on union recognition.

“That TikTok management have announced these cuts just as the company’s workers are about to vote on having their union recognised stinks of union-busting and putting corporate greed over the safety of workers and the public,” he added.

Under the plans, many of the affected positions would be transferred to other European locations or outsourced, with only a reduced trust and safety presence retained in the UK.

The company, which has a workforce of over 2,500 in Britain, is also set to open a new office in central London next year.