TikTok could be putting hundreds of UK jobs at risk as it opts to transform its content moderation department with AI.

The social media platform’s current transformation plans will see the giant move its offices to other parts of Europe as it invests in AI over workers for its content moderation.

A TikTok spokesperson told the BBC that its reorganisation will “include concentrating our operations in fewer locations globally.”

However,  a Communication Workers Union (CWU) spokesperson warns that TikTok’s planned move to relocate offices from London comes just as workers are attempting to unionise.

“TikTok workers have long been sounding the alarm over the real-world costs of cutting human moderation teams in favour of hastily developed, immature AI alternatives,” John Chadfield, CWU National Officer for Tech said.

The cuts come “just as the company’s workers are about to vote on having their union recognised,” he added.

Staff working in the London team on Trust and Safety, as well as hundreds more employees the department’s Asia locations are being affected by the cuts.

TikTok says that around 85% of posts which breach their rules are removed by AI and automated systems. The firm’s content moderation relies on a combination of human and automated moderators, but it hopes its AI investments will decrease the reliance on human interreference.

Staff that are affected in the cuts will have the opportunity to apply for internal roles and be given reference if they meet the job requirements.

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The restructuring also coincides with the Online Safety Act’s continued rollout, with major ripple effects for tech giants.

Following the Online Safety Act, TikTok introduced new parental controls, giving parents the ability to block accounts from their children, and changing the privacy settings on teen accounts.

However, the UK’s data watchdog has critiqued the platform, launching a major investigation in March into the firm’s use of children’s data.

TikTok already faced a major fine from the Information Commissioner’s Office over its processing of children’s data out with GDPR compliance.