According to a Bloomberg report, the Chinese government is considering a plan that would allow Elon Musk to acquire TikTok’s U.S. operations. This contingency plan is one of several options China is exploring as the U.S. Supreme Court deliberates on whether to uphold a law that could permanently ban TikTok in the country.
Is China Selling TikTok to Musk?
Following Bloomberg’s revelations, a TikTok spokesperson quickly denied the claims, stating, “We cannot comment on pure fiction.” However, options to prevent the platform’s removal from the U.S. are dwindling.
The Supreme Court has backed a law requiring ByteDance, TikTok’s Beijing-based parent company, to divest its U.S. operations by January 19. If the deadline isn’t met, third-party internet service providers could face sanctions for supporting TikTok’s operations in the U.S.
Bloomberg suggests that under the proposed plan, Elon Musk would oversee both X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok’s U.S. business. However, Chinese officials have yet to make a decision, and the plan remains preliminary. It is also unclear if ByteDance is aware of these discussions or Elon Musk’s potential involvement. Senior Chinese officials are reportedly weighing contingency plans for TikTok’s future as part of broader strategies to navigate the upcoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump.
TikTok on the Brink in the U.S.
The potential TikTok ban stems from national security concerns, data privacy risks, and fears of foreign influence. The U.S. government worries that ByteDance could be compelled to share American user data with the Chinese government under China’s national security laws. This could grant access to sensitive information such as geolocation, online activities, and personal data of millions of users.
Additionally, there are fears that TikTok could be used to manipulate public opinion in the U.S. by promoting pro-China content, suppressing critical views on sensitive topics (e.g., Tibet, Taiwan, or human rights), or leveraging algorithms to sway political or social opinions.
TikTok’s data collection practices have also drawn scrutiny. The platform gathers significant amounts of user data, raising questions about its storage and usage. Although TikTok has denied sharing data with the Chinese government, many in the U.S. government remain skeptical.
Concerns are heightened by past incidents where Chinese companies have been accused of espionage or intellectual property theft. These precedents have made the U.S. wary of apps linked to Chinese firms.
The strained U.S.-China relationship—marred by trade, technology, and geopolitical disputes—has made TikTok a symbol of these tensions. This has intensified efforts to regulate or ban the app’s operations in the U.S., leaving its future hanging by a thread.
This article was originally written in Spanish by Miguel Fernandez in Cultura Colectiva.