According to Bloomberg, the Chinese government is reportedly considering a proposal that could allow Elon Musk to acquire TikTok's U.S. operations. This move is being explored as a strategy to prevent the app from being banned in the United States.

The situation has arisen as the U.S. Supreme Court reviews a law that may require ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to divest its U.S. business by January 19, 2025. National security concerns over TikTok’s Chinese ownership have been a significant factor driving this potential decision.

If the plan proceeds, Elon Musk will oversee both TikTok’s U.S. operations and his social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. However, the discussions are in the early stages, and neither Musk nor TikTok has confirmed any involvement in the matter.

The U.S. government’s concerns revolve around the potential for user data to be accessed by Chinese authorities, leading to increased scrutiny of TikTok’s ownership and operations.

Image by Economist