The Chinese government is considering a proposal for Elon Musk to purchase TikTok’s U.S. business to prevent the app from being effectively banned.
According to the article, which cited anonymous sources, China is considering a number of options, including the contingency plan, as the U.S. Supreme Court decides whether to uphold a statute requiring China-based ByteDance to sell off TikTok’s U.S. company by January 19.
Although they have considered other options, such as selling the company to Musk, Beijing officials prefer that TikTok stay in the ownership of its Chinese parent company, Bytedance, according to Bloomberg.
The Financial Times revealed that authorities had proposed Musk act as a mediator between ByteDance and any potential acquirer to prevent shutting down the app.
A TikTok spokesperson said , “We can’t be expected to comment on pure fiction.”
TikTok: One of the leading social network
ByteDance, a Chinese technology startup, founded TikTok in September 2016. In September 2017, it made its global debut as TikTok after being first presented in China under the name Douyin.
In 2018, ByteDance purchased Musical.ly, a comparable software, and combined it with TikTok, greatly increasing its popularity throughout the world.
With 170 million users, it initially surpassed Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube in terms of app downloads in 2018. Since then, it has grown to become one of the most popular apps in the US.
TikTok has previously pushed back against concerns about China’s influence, stating that the Chinese government’s take “has no bearing on ByteDance’s global operations outside of China, including TikTok.”
This could significantly reshape how the app operated in the United States, as ByteDance, its parent company, may no longer hold full control over its fate.
TikTok and Political Scenario
TikTok’s growth increasingly alarms US politicians, who fear that the Chinese Communist Party could influence the app’s developers. In April, the US House of Representatives enacted a bill forcing ByteDance to sell the platform or face a complete ban in the country.
The future of TikTok in the U.S. is hanging in the balance, with the Supreme Court appearing inclined last week to uphold a law that could force the app’s sale or outright ban by January 19.
Adding complexity to the situation, China’s government holds a “golden share” in ByteDance.
This type of stake has sparked concern among U.S. lawmakers, who argue it gives Beijing influence over TikTok. Such fears have fueled bipartisan calls to act against the platform, citing national security and data privacy risks.
For now, officials are still weighing their options, and it’s clear that the clock is ticking. The decision will have far-reaching implications not just for millions of American TikTok users but also for the broader tech and social media landscape.
The company has consistently emphasized its independence in managing operations outside of China.
Meanwhile, Elon is on his platform, X, and China’s Cyberspace Administration and Ministry of Commerce have not responded to Reuter’s requests for comment regarding the potential sale of a partnership involving TikTok’s U.S. operations.
This silence leaves many questions unanswered as the deadline to decide TikTok’s future looms closer.
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