Social media platform TikTok has refuted reviews that China is exploring the sale of the app’s U.S. operations to Elon Musk, calling the claims “pure fiction.”
The rumors originated from a Bloomberg report suggesting Chinese language officers had been evaluating Musk’s acquisition of TikTok’s U.S. property to avoid a possible ban below U.S. laws set to take impact on January 19.
The report, which cited nameless sources, claims that Musk’s historical past of profitable enterprise dealings in China and his relationship with Beijing make him a good candidate for such a deal.
“We will’t be anticipated to touch upon pure fiction,” a TikTok spokesperson instructed Selection.
The U.S. authorities has raised considerations about TikTok’s Chinese language possession, citing nationwide safety dangers. Lawmakers have stated they worry the app may result in knowledge misuse, surveillance, or propaganda.
Congress handed the Defending Individuals from Overseas Adversary Managed Purposes Act final 12 months, requiring TikTok’s mother or father firm ByteDance to divest its TikTok stake or face a nationwide ban.
TikTok has appealed the legislation to the Supreme Court docket, noting how the ban violates the First Modification rights of its 170 million U.S. customers.
On January 10, the Supreme Court docket heard TikTok’s emergency attraction, however appeared extra receptive to the federal government’s place.
If the ban proceeds, Apple, Google, and internet hosting suppliers should block TikTok’s distribution within the U.S. until ByteDance complies with the legislation.
Musk, Misinformation, and Crypto Ties
Hypothesis linking Musk to a TikTok acquisition has triggered discussions about his affect in tech and politics.
Since buying X, previously Twitter, in 2022 for $44 billion, Musk has wielded the platform to sway public sentiment, together with within the political and crypto areas.
Notably, his tweets and endorsements have fueled sentiment round cryptocurrencies like Dogecoin (DOGE), which noticed important worth surges tied to his feedback.
In the course of the 2024 presidential election, Musk’s posts reportedly amplified election misinformation, with a Heart for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) report flagging at the least 87 of his posts as false or deceptive.
Musk’s reference to President-elect Donald Trump, the Republican candidate within the 2024 election, additionally set off considerations.
The billionaire used Twitter to share Trump’s marketing campaign narratives It additionally led the Dogecoin worth to a three-year excessive when Musk teased the institution of a Division of Authorities Effectivity (D.O.G.E.) below the President-elect’s administration.
TikTok’s destiny hangs within the stability because the ban deadline approaches. For now, the platform continues its battle to take care of entry for hundreds of thousands of American customers.
Edited by Stacy Elliott.
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