China may sell TikTok in US to Elon Musk - media

Tengrinews.kz - Chinese officials are in preliminary talks about a potential sale of TikTok's operations in the United States to billionaire Elon Musk, according to Bloomberg.
The publication notes that this is happening against the backdrop of a trial in the US Supreme Court, which must decide whether a law will come into force that obliges TikTok's current owners to sell the social network or cease its operations in the US by January 19. Beijing officials prefer that TikTok remain under the control of parent Bytedance, the report says, citing sources.
The bill would fine third-party internet service providers for supporting TikTok's operations in the United States after January 19.
According to Bloomberg, Beijing is considering the option of bringing TikTok's American segment into Musk's X social network among scenarios for future cooperation with the new Trump-led American administration. As the publication writes, officials have not yet reached a consensus on how to proceed.

“We can’t be expected to comment on pure fiction,” a TikTok spokesperson said, responding to the report.

The Guardian notes that it is unclear how much ByteDance knows about the discussions or about Musk and TikTok’s involvement. However, TikTok has previously said that the government’s stake “has no bearing on ByteDance’s global operations outside of China, including TikTok.”
Author - Nuray Kapen