Former TikTok Employee Accuses Company of Bullying and Anti-Union Practices
A former TikTok employee has filed a lawsuit against the company, alleging systematic workplace bullying, psychological harassment, and obstruction of union activities. The complaint claims content moderators are constantly monitored by AI and deprived of psychological support, bringing tech giants' behind-the-scenes working conditions back into focus.
Shocking Allegations from TikTok Employee: Bullying and Union Blocking
The technology world's leading short-video platform TikTok has been shaken by a lawsuit filed by a former employee. The anonymous former employee has taken legal action, accusing the company of workplace bullying, psychological harassment, and intentionally obstructing unionization efforts. This case has reignited discussions about the working conditions behind the scenes at social media giants.
At the Heart of the Allegations: Constant AI Surveillance and Psychological Pressure
Among the plaintiff employee's most striking claims is that employees, particularly those in content moderator positions, are subject to constant and excessive monitoring of their work performance and even personal breaks by artificial intelligence (AI) systems. This situation is said to create significant psychological pressure and stress on employees. According to the allegations, moderators tasked with filtering violent, hate speech, or sexually explicit material on the platform are already under the burden of a difficult job and must also cope with the additional anxiety of being monitored at all times by a 'digital eye'.
The plaintiff also argues that the company fails to provide adequate and effective support mechanisms against the damaging psychological effects of working under such intense surveillance. It is alleged that psychological counseling services are either insufficient or inaccessible in the face of the traumatic content and excessive workload employees are exposed to.
Allegations of Hindered Union Activities
Another critical aspect of the lawsuit involves anti-union practices. The former employee alleges that TikTok management actively obstructs employees' efforts to organize and unionize to protect their rights. In this context, it is stated that tactics such as mobbing (workplace bullying), intimidation, and unfair treatment are used against employees who participate in or support union activities. Such allegations, if proven, could have significant implications for labor rights within the technology sector, which has historically seen low unionization rates. The case highlights growing concerns about employee welfare and the ethical use of monitoring technologies in high-pressure digital content moderation roles.
