TikTok cuts trust and safety jobs in Singapore amid global layoffs

Employees in the trust and safety team were notified via email on Thursday, with the cuts extending to teams across the Asia-Pacific, Europe and the U.S., a source told The Straits Times.

The email to Singapore employees stated that the decision came after months of careful consideration, citing operational efficiency and better alignment with business needs. Among those affected was trust and safety product manager Eric Tan, who shared on LinkedIn that he "woke up to the sobering news" of his redundancy.

He said the layoffs impacted multiple departments and "some really bright and passionate individuals."

"The news of the layoffs stung because deep down in my heart I knew I was meant to be there."

He had worked for the Chinese company for three years.

The layoffs follow previous job cuts. In October 2024 it cut hundreds of positions, including many in Malaysia, as it shifted towards AI-driven content moderation.

TikTok's logo on a smartphone. Photo by Reuters

Several industry professionals and organizations have stepped in to assist affected employees.

Jamin Tan, director of the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), urged employers with vacancies to consider hiring those impacted and noted that IMDA currently has two openings in data protection. The National Trade Union Congress-affiliated Tech Talent Assembly is also reaching out to TikTok employees who are members.

While some employees were caught off guard, others saw the layoffs as part of a broader trend in the tech industry, a former TikTok employee said.

Alvin Aloysius Goh, executive director of the Singapore Human Resources Institute, said layoffs are likely to continue as companies across industries adjust to stay competitive. He noted that the hiring boom fueled by increased demand for tech services during the Covid-19 pandemic has slowed, leading firms to recalibrate their workforce sizes.

"Even so, opportunities remain in high-growth sectors such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and green technology."