Chinese officials have reportedly held initial discussions about the possibility of selling TikTok’s US operations to billionaire Elon Musk, should the popular short-video app face a ban in the United States.
However, ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, has denied the speculation, calling it “pure fiction.”
TikTok is at the center of a heated debate in the US over national security and data privacy concerns due to its ties to China. The US House of Representatives passed legislation in April 2024 requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok or face a complete ban in the US. The Supreme Court, which recently heard arguments on the matter, appears inclined to uphold this law, potentially leading to a ban on January 19, 2025.
While Beijing prefers TikTok to remain under ByteDance’s control, Bloomberg reported that officials have explored alternatives, including a potential sale to Musk. The report suggests that if such a deal occurred, Musk’s social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, could co-manage TikTok’s US operations.
TikTok’s influence in the US has grown significantly, with 170 million users as of 2024. The app’s rise has sparked concerns among American politicians, who argue that China’s “golden share” in ByteDance gives its government undue influence over TikTok. ByteDance has consistently countered these claims, stating that its US operations are independent of the Chinese government.
The Chinese government’s involvement in ByteDance’s decision-making has drawn scrutiny from the US. Experts argue that TikTok’s integration with ByteDance makes separating the US operations challenging, raising doubts about the feasibility of an independent sale.
Elon Musk, known for acquiring Twitter in 2022 and renaming it X, has not publicly commented on the matter. Any sale to Musk would likely attract regulatory attention from the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice, given Musk’s growing influence in the American social media landscape.
With input from the Guardian, Forbes and CNBC.
