Former TikTok Moderators Launch UK Legal Action Alleging Bullying, Harassment, and Union-Busting Practices

Lynda Ouazar, a former TikTok content moderator and quality control worker in the UK, has come forward with serious allegations against the company, claiming she experienced bullying, harassment, and exclusion after becoming a union representative for the United Tech and Allied Workers (UTAW). Along with four former colleagues, she is initiating legal proceedings against TikTok, marking the second such case from UK ex-employees in recent months. Ouazar described initially enjoying her role moderating content but suffering significant mental health impacts after being assigned to review extreme material, including child sexual abuse, violence against women, self-harm, and hate speech. She stated that despite company policies offering breaks and mental health resources, in practice, moderators faced intense pressure to meet speed targets under constant AI monitoring, often leading to emotional distress and continued work despite tears, with job security, bonuses, and salaries at risk if quotas were not met. This pressure, she argued, compromised both moderator well-being and platform safety by increasing errors that allow harmful content to remain online. After joining the union, Ouazar claims her performance ratings were unfairly downgraded without explanation, even after raising grievances, and she observed similar patterns affecting other union-involved colleagues. During a major restructuring last year, her team faced redundancy risks, resulting in 11 out of 24 at-risk employees losing jobs—all of whom were reportedly active in union activities. Represented by Foxglove legal head Stella Caram, the claimants seek compensation for alleged unlawful dismissal tied to union engagement and aim to set a precedent against such practices globally. TikTok strongly denies the claims, highlighting enhancements in safety technologies, with automated removal of 91% of violative content and 95% within 24 hours, as well as top moderation accuracy rates per EU data.