Bloomberg: Tiktok could end up in Elon Musk’s hands in the US

The integration of Tiktok’s US operations into Musk’s X messaging service is mentioned in the Bloomberg article as a future option.

The sale could be an option if Tiktok is unable to avoid the ban now looming in the US, according to the authorities. However, there is no information on actual sales negotiations between the parties.

The Chinese state owns a legal one per cent stake – the so-called golden share – in Tiktok’s parent company Bytedance’s China operations, Douyin Information Service.

– This is a common arrangement for companies operating news and information platforms in China. This arrangement applies only to services provided in the Chinese market and does not affect Bytedance’s global operations outside China, including Tiktok, which does not operate in mainland China, Tiktok says on its website.

According to Bloomberg, China would prefer Tiktok to be controlled by Bytedance, but its Tiktok US operations could be sold either through a competitive process or through a government arrangement. This suggests that the app’s future is no longer solely under the control of its parent company, Bytedance.

The integration of Tiktok’s US operations into Musk’s messaging service X is mentioned in the Bloomberg article as one future option.

– You can’t expect us to comment on pure fiction, Tiktok’s representative commented on the matter to the Reuters news agency.

Trump changed his mind about Tiktok

Last week, the US Supreme Court appeared inclined to uphold a law that would force Tiktok to be sold or banned in the US by January 19 over national security concerns from China.

Four years ago, Trump considered Tiktok a national security threat. Now he describes Tiktok as \”a unique tool for freedom of expression.\”

Trump has almost 15 million followers on Tiktok.

*Sources: Reuters, AFP*