Overview
- An open letter from the TUC, CWU and online-safety figures including Ian Russell, Arturo Bejar and Sonia Livingstone asks Chi Onwurah to launch a Science, Innovation and Technology Committee inquiry.
- TikTok plans to cut about 400–439 London-based moderation roles as part of a global reorganisation that concentrates operations in fewer locations and scales AI-driven tools.
- Signatories warn the cuts could increase risks for 30 million UK users, citing estimates that up to 1.4 million may be under 13, and say roles could be offshored to countries such as Kenya and the Philippines.
- Unions allege union-busting after the redundancies were announced eight days before a planned union recognition vote, while TikTok says the timing is unrelated and that consultations continue.
- TikTok rejects claims it is deprioritising safety, citing that roughly 85% of rule-breaking content is removed by automation and noting it has engaged with the CWU during the process.