Social media platform Tik Tok has denied reports that China is considering selling the app's US operations to Elon Musk.
The rumor stems from a Bloomberg report that says Chinese authorities are reviewing Musk's purchase of TikTok's US assets to avoid a ban under US law that will take effect on January 19.
The report, which cited anonymous sources, said Musk's track record of successful business in China and his ties to Beijing make him a good candidate for the contract.
A Tik Tok spokesperson told Variety, “We don't expect to comment on pure fiction.
The US government has raised concerns over TikTok's Chinese ownership, citing national security concerns. Lawmakers have said they fear the app could lead to data misuse, surveillance or propaganda.
Congress passed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Entities Controlled Applications Act last year, forcing TikTok's parent company ByteDance to divest TikTok or face a nationwide ban.
TikTok appealed the law to the Supreme Court, citing how the ban violates the First Amendment rights of its 170 million US users.
On January 10, the Supreme Court heard TikTok's urgent appeal, but appeared more receptive to the government's position.
If the ban goes ahead, Apple, Google and web hosting providers will have to block TikTok distribution in the US unless ByteDance complies with the law.
Masks, Misinformation and Crypto Ties
Speculation linking Mook to the TikTok purchase has sparked discussions about its impact on technology and politics.
Since acquiring former Twitter X for $44 billion in 2022, Musk has used the platform to sway public sentiment, including in politics and the cryptocurrency space.
In particular, his tweets and endorsements fueled sentiment around cryptocurrencies such as Dogecoin (DOGE), which saw significant price increases associated with his comments.
In the year Musk's posts reportedly fueled election misinformation during the 2024 presidential election, with the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) reporting that at least 87 of them were false or misleading.
Mook also raised concerns about his relationship with President-elect Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for the 2024 election.
The billionaire took to Twitter to share Trump's campaign narratives, including mocking Musk's establishment of the Office of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the president-elect's administration, sending Dogecoin's price to a three-year high.
Tik Tok's fate hangs in the balance as the ban's deadline approaches. For now, the platform continues to struggle to maintain its reach to millions of American users.
Edited by Stacy Elliott.
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