Home TikTok denies report of Chinese officials looking at sale of app to Elon Musk

TikTok denies report of Chinese officials looking at sale of app to Elon Musk

TLDR

  • TikTok denies report on Musk buying its U.S. operations, calling it "pure fiction."
  • Supreme Court to decide TikTok's fate before Jan. 19 ban due to security concerns.
  • Ban may halt downloads and updates; installed apps could remain unstable over time.
  • After a suggestion that Chinese officials were looking at a possibility where Elon Musk could acquire the US operations of TikTok, a rep for the app has denied the report.

    Bloomberg Newsr first reported on Monday that they are “evaluating a potential option that involves Elon Musk acquiring the US operations of TikTok if the company fails to fend off a controversial ban on the short-video app.”

    The report cited people familiar with the matter, but just a day later a rep for TikTok denied this in reply to a request for comment by Variety.

    “We can’t be expected to comment on pure fiction,” the source is quoted as saying.

    The entrepreneur already owns X, previously Twitter, after he acquired the company in 2022.

    The decisions around TikTok’s fate will conclude in the coming days as the ban is set to take effect on January 19 after the government brought in a new law due to national security concerns.

    Its fate is in the hands of the Supreme Court which could issue a ruling stopping it from taking effect. The court heard arguments in an emergency appeal from TikTok on Friday, January 10 as they aimed to find a way to block the law.

    TikTok and ByteDance argued that the law violates the First Amendment rights of the 170 million U.S. users on the platform.

    While the company has presented its case, the Supreme Court hasn’t yet made any movement on potentially stopping the ban as the days tick on.

    What will happen if the US bans the TikTok app?

    With the looming date just days away, it’s becoming increasingly likely that the platform will be shut down in the United States after months of back-and-forth about the topic.

    If enacted on Sunday, the law that has been passed will force intermediary companies like Apple and Google to stop providing access to the platform.

    This will result in people being unable to download the app if they don’t already have it, but it will possibly remain on phones if it has already been installed.

    The law will ban those companies from letting users receive any updates to the app which could lead to it becoming more unstable as time progresses.

    Featured Image: AI-generated via Grok

    About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

    The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech, gambling and blockchain industries for major developments, new product and brand launches, AI breakthroughs, game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to in-house staff writers with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

    Sophie Atkinson
    Tech Journalist

    Sophie Atkinson is a UK-based journalist and content writer, as well as a founder of a content agency which focuses on storytelling through social media marketing. She kicked off her career with a Print Futures Award which champions young talent working in print, paper and publishing. Heading straight into a regional newsroom, after graduating with a BA (Hons) degree in Journalism, Sophie started by working for Reach PLC. Now, with five years experience in journalism and many more in content marketing, Sophie works as a freelance writer and marketer. Her areas of specialty span a wide range, including technology, business,…

    Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

      By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

      Tech News

      Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

      In-Depth Tech Stories

      Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

      Expert Reviews

      Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.