14th January 2025 – (Beijing) Chinese officials are reportedly exploring the possibility of selling TikTok’s U.S. operations to billionaire Elon Musk if the popular social media platform cannot successfully counter a looming ban. Bloomberg News cited sources familiar with the discussions, indicating that while the Chinese government prefers TikTok to remain under the control of its parent company, ByteDance, they are weighing options should the company’s appeal against the ban fail.
In a potential scenario, Musk’s social media platform X could take over TikTok’s U.S. operations and manage the business in conjunction with ByteDance. However, the report emphasised that Chinese officials have not yet reached a definitive decision, and their discussions are still in the initial stages.
TikTok declined to comment on the matter, and Musk, as well as representatives from X, did not respond to inquiries. The Cyberspace Administration of China and the Ministry of Commerce, key government agencies that may influence the future of TikTok, were also unavailable for comment.
The urgency of these discussions follows a recent Supreme Court indication that it may uphold legislation mandating either a sale or a ban on TikTok in the U.S. by 19th January. The justices have expressed concerns centred on national security implications related to China’s ownership of the app, further complicating the platform’s future in the American market.
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