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TikTok has pushed back on a report that it was considering selling its US operations to Elon Musk ahead of an upcoming ban.

Some shit you should know before you read: Last year, Congress passed the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act” with bipartisan support, addressing widespread concerns about the potential national security risks posed by TikTok’s Chinese ownership. The law, later signed by President Biden, requires TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to either divest its US operations or face an outright ban, based on fears that the Chinese government could exploit the platform’s algorithm to manipulate information and access sensitive user data from millions of Americans. Recently, President-elect Donald Trump requested the Supreme Court to pause the law’s implementation, arguing that the forced sale would be premature and that more time would be needed to negotiate a political resolution. Ultimately, the Supreme Court said it would not delay the law’s implementation and signaled that it would uphold the divesture of its Chinese ownership or face a ban.

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What’s going on now: Following a report from Bloomberg and other outlets suggesting that Chinese officials were considering a plan for Elon Musk to acquire TikTok’s US operations to avert a potential ban, TikTok denied the claims, labeling them as “pure fiction.” The Bloomberg report in question claimed that Chinese officials were exploring contingency options ahead of a January 19th deadline that would require ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent company, to divest its US operations or face removal from American app stores. According to the report, one proposed scenario involved Musk’s social platform, X (formerly Twitter), taking control of TikTok’s US business and leveraging its 170 million American users to bolster its advertising efforts. The speculation also highlighted Musk’s history as a self-proclaimed “free speech absolutist” and his opposition to banning TikTok on grounds of freedom of expression.

In response, TikTok spokesman Michael Hughes dismissed the claims outright, stating, “We can’t be expected to comment on pure fiction.” While Bloomberg cited unnamed sources claiming Chinese officials were weighing this option as part of broader discussions on US-China relations, TikTok has maintained that its focus remains on contesting the US legislation, which it argues violates the First Amendment.

The reports also suggested that ByteDance may not be fully aware of the Chinese government’s internal deliberations, adding further ambiguity to the situation. Meanwhile, Musk and his representatives have not commented on the rumors, and it remains unclear whether any formal discussions about such a deal have taken place.

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