TikTok has dismissed a report suggesting that China might allow the sale of its US operations to Elon Musk as "pure fiction." This response follows a Bloomberg report indicating that Chinese officials are considering this option if the US Supreme Court upholds a ban on TikTok. The Supreme Court is set to rule on a law requiring TikTok to sell its US operations by January 19 or face a ban. TikTok has consistently stated it will not sell its US business, with a spokesperson emphasizing they cannot comment on "pure fiction."
The Bloomberg report also mentioned a scenario where Musk's X platform could take over TikTok's US operations. Musk, an ally of president-elect Donald Trump, has seen Trump advocate for delaying the Supreme Court's decision to seek a political resolution regarding TikTok. Trump's legal brief expressed opposition to banning TikTok and sought to address the issues politically after taking office.
Amid these developments, Democratic lawmakers have urged Congress and President Biden to extend the January 19 deadline. During a recent Supreme Court hearing, justices showed a tendency to uphold the legislation, citing national security concerns. The Biden administration argues that without a sale, TikTok could be exploited by China for espionage and political manipulation, while TikTok has denied any influence from the Chinese Communist Party and claims the ban violates users' First Amendment rights.
