TikTok has called Elon Musk’s acquisition rumors “pure fiction” before the US ban

Social media platform TikTok has denied reports that China is exploring selling the app’s US operations to Elon Musk, calling the claims “pure fiction”.

Ushak A Bloomberg report Chinese officials are believed to be evaluating Musk’s purchase of TikTok’s US assets in accordance with the US law, which will take effect on January 19.

The report, citing anonymous sources, said Musk’s history of successful business dealings in China and his relationship with Beijing make him an attractive candidate for such a deal.

A TikTok spokesperson said: “We cannot comment on pure fiction.” Variety.

The US government has expressed concern over Chinese ownership of TikTok as a threat to national security. Lawmakers are concerned that the app could lead to data abuse, surveillance or propaganda.

Congress last year passed the “Protecting Americans from Apps Controlled by Foreign Enemies” Act, which required TikTok’s parent company ByteDance to divest itself of its stake in 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 emergency appeal, but took the government’s position more favorably.

If the ban is imposed, Apple, Google and web hosting providers ByteDance will have to block TikTok from being distributed in the US unless it complies with the law.

Mask, Misinformation and Crypto Connections

Speculation surrounding Musk’s acquisition of TikTok has sparked debate about its impact on technology and politics.

since get it X, formerly Twitter, to be valued at $44 billion in 2022, Musk has used the platform to change public sentiment, including in the political and crypto spaces.

Notably, his tweets and likes have boosted sentiment around cryptocurrencies Dogecoin (DOGE)saw a significant increase in ratings tied to his comments.

During the 2024 presidential election, Musk’s posts fueled misinformation about the election. Center Against Digital Hate (CCDH) report flagging at least 87 of his statements as false or misleading.

Musk’s relationship with President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for the 2024 election, has also raised concerns.

The billionaire used Twitter to share Trump’s campaign narrative Dogecoin price a three-year high When Musk teased the creation of a Department of Government Effectiveness (DOGE) under the administration of the President-elect.

As the ban approaches, the fate of TikTok remains uncertain. For now, the platform continues to struggle to provide access to millions of American users.

Edited by Stacey Elliott.