Canada Joins US in TikTok Ban – Further Layoffs Expected

Key Takeaways

• TikTok will be shuttering its operations in Canada.
• Although the move won’t prevent people from using the app, hundreds of jobs could be at risk.
• TikTok laid off hundreds of content moderators in Malaysia, while workers in the U.K. face a similar fate.

Citing national security risks, the Canadian government has ordered  TikTok to shut down its business in the country in a move that could put hundreds of jobs at risk.

While both TikTok and the government have insisted that the social media app will remain accessible to Canadians, the company’s local workforce faces an uncertain future.

Hundreds of Jobs at Risk

With offices in Toronto and Vancouver, TikTok claimed in a statement  that the shutdown order would destroy “hundreds of well-paying local jobs [and] is not in anyone’s best interest.”

“We will challenge this order in court. The TikTok platform will remain available for creators to find an audience, explore new interests and for businesses to thrive,” it added.

TikTok’s Global Layoffs

The latest threat to TikTok employees comes just a month after the company’s Malaysian outfit laid off over 700 workers, mostly from its content moderation department.

TikTok’s content moderators in the U.K. face a similar prospect. As The Bureau of Investigative Journalism reported in October, 125 people who work in content moderation and other safety roles have been told they may be made redundant.

The potential layoffs represent roughly a quarter of TikTok’s U.K. workforce.

In both Malaysia and the U.K., workers were told the downsizing was due to the platform shifting to more automated content moderation. 

How Shutdowns Affect User Experience

While it is still too early to identify how TikTok’s cuts to its content moderation departments will impact users’ experiences, any observable changes could give an insight into what Canadian users can expect. 

Without local offices, TikTok’s capacity for region-specific content moderation and user support may diminish, potentially to the detriment of the app’s user experience.