Background on TikTok Content Moderators and Their Concerns
TikTok’s content moderators in Germany staged a protest on Thursday in Berlin, alleging that the social media platform is preparing to replace human moderators with artificial intelligence (AI), which they believe will lead to increased exposure to online hate and misinformation.
Approximately 50 individuals gathered near TikTok’s German offices, including some of the 150 members of the “trust and safety” department in Berlin. These moderators claim that TikTok management mentioned a mass layoff.
Protesters’ Demands and TikTok’s Response
The protesters are calling for TikTok to reconsider its projects. A banner read, “We train their machines, pay us what we deserve.” As of the time of this report, TikTok has not yet responded to AFP’s request for comment.
By the end of 2023, TikTok claimed to have over 20 million users in Germany. Content moderators are responsible for preventing the posting of hate speech, misinformation, and pornography on the platform.
Global Trend of Reducing Human Workforce in Favor of AI
This labor dispute reflects a global trend among social media platforms to reduce their workforce in favor of AI-driven content moderation solutions.
TikTok’s Previous Job Cuts and AI Implementation
In October, TikTok announced the elimination of hundreds of jobs worldwide, particularly in Malaysia, as it shifted towards automated solutions like AI for content moderation. According to the ver.di union, TikTok Germany refused to negotiate with its moderators.
Moderators had expected “long-term employment,” according to one of them, Benjamin Karkowski, following a training session on a system change earlier in the year. However, a month later, they received a message stating that their jobs would be terminated and taken over by AI.
Moderators’ Concerns Regarding AI Content Moderation
Sara Tegge, a moderator, emphasized that “AI cannot determine if content discriminates against certain groups or assess the danger posed by some content.”
TikTok’s Relationship with Western Governments and China
Owned by the Chinese group ByteDance, TikTok is a powerful video-sharing platform with 1.5 billion members. The platform has been under scrutiny by Western governments due to its ties with China and potential use of user data for espionage or propaganda purposes.
Key Questions and Answers
- What are TikTok content moderators protesting about in Germany? They are concerned that their jobs will be replaced by AI, which they believe will result in increased exposure to online hate speech and misinformation.
- How many content moderators are involved in the protest? Approximately 50 individuals, including some of the 150 members of TikTok’s “trust and safety” department in Berlin.
- What demands are the protesters making of TikTok? They are calling for TikTok to reconsider its projects and ensure that human moderators are compensated fairly for their work.
- Why are Western governments concerned about TikTok? Due to its Chinese ownership and potential use of user data for espionage or propaganda.
