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TikTok denies sale rumors to Elon Musk, labels reports ‘Pure Fiction’

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TikTok denies sale rumors to Elon Musk, labels reports ‘Pure Fiction’
X

14 Jan 2025 8:51 PM IST

TikTok has strongly rejected claims suggesting a possible sale of its U.S. operations to billionaire Elon Musk, dismissing the reports as “pure fiction.” The company’s response follows a Bloomberg News article stating that Chinese officials were exploring the idea of selling TikTok’s American arm to Musk due to concerns over a potential U.S. ban.

Owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance, TikTok has faced ongoing scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers over national security risks tied to its connections with China. Critics have raised alarms about the potential for Beijing to access or influence user data. In response to these concerns, the U.S. government has set a January 19 deadline for ByteDance to divest TikTok’s U.S. operations or face a nationwide ban.

The Bloomberg report suggested that, if a ban becomes unavoidable, Chinese officials might consider selling TikTok’s U.S. arm. The article hinted that the sale could either involve direct negotiations with the Chinese government or take place through a competitive bidding process. However, TikTok firmly denied these speculations, with a company spokesperson stating, “We can’t be expected to comment on pure fiction.”

Despite the looming deadline, outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump has called for a delay to explore potential political solutions to avoid the ban. Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court recently heard arguments supporting the ban, with justices appearing to lean toward upholding it. Concerns over TikTok’s ties to China and the perceived national security risks were central to the discussions, even as critics argued that banning the app could restrict free speech for its 170 million U.S. users.

ByteDance has previously insisted that it has no intention of selling TikTok, despite growing interest from various investors, including former U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and billionaire Frank McCourt. TikTok has faced similar challenges in other countries, including the UK, where concerns over its Chinese ownership have led to increased scrutiny and bans.

As the January 19 deadline approaches, the future of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain, with no resolution yet in sight.

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