China Reportedly Discusses Selling TikTok US Operations to Elon Musk
Chinese officials are considering Musk as a buyer to prevent a US ban, but TikTok and ByteDance deny any ongoing negotiations.
- US law mandates ByteDance to sell TikTok's US operations by January 19, 2025, or face a nationwide ban due to national security concerns.
- The Supreme Court is expected to rule this week on TikTok's appeal against the divestment requirement, with indications that the ban may be upheld.
- Bloomberg reports that Chinese officials are exploring contingency plans, including a potential sale to Elon Musk, though TikTok has dismissed these claims as 'pure fiction.'
- Musk's acquisition of TikTok could cost $40–50 billion, comparable to his 2022 purchase of Twitter, now X, but his financial capacity to pursue such a deal remains uncertain.
- If banned, TikTok's 170 million US users may seek alternatives, potentially reshaping the social media landscape and impacting platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and Musk's X.
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