General Discussion

4th

(142 posts) Mon Jan 13, 2025, 09:37 PM Jan 13

That's one way to keep Tik-Tok up and running.

China considers selling TikTok U.S. operations to Musk, Bloomberg reports
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/13/china-considers-selling-tiktok-us-operations-to-musk-bloomberg-.html

The Chinese government is considering a plan that would have Elon Musk acquire TikTok’s U.S. operations to keep the app from being effectively banned, Bloomberg News reported on Monday.

The contingency plan is one of several options China is exploring as the U.S. Supreme Court determines whether to uphold a law that calls for China-based ByteDance to divest TikTok’s U.S. business by Jan. 19, the report said, citing anonymous sources.

After that deadline, third-party Internet service providers would be penalized for supporting TikTok’s operations in the country.

Under the plan, Musk would oversee both X, which he currently owns, and TikTok’s U.S. business, Bloomberg said. However, Chinese government officials haven’t yet decided on whether it would proceed, the report said, noting that the plan is still preliminary.

...

Smells like an anti-trust violation to me, but anti-trust prosecutions are always very selective and I wouldn't expect Trump's administration to mess with a good buddy.

15 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

That's one way to keep Tik-Tok up and running. (Original Post) 4th Jan 13 OP

China spying by owning Tic Tok or Russia spying with Musk owning it? keithbvadu2 Jan 13 #1

To be fair, it's not like either country couldn't just buy the data EdmondDantes_ Jan 13 #3

Yeah. Now Musk can be the seller/controller. keithbvadu2 Jan 13 #7

Would quickly drive it into the ground as well Mountainguy Jan 13 #2

Oh dog please no. scipan Jan 13 #4

MmmHmm, it all makes the worst kind of sense, when you put it in their light 0rganism Jan 13 #6

Well then forget antitrust. But he will throttle any progressives scipan Jan 14 #8

Saw this coming over a month ago Mr.WeRP Jan 13 #5

Yes you nailed it. scipan Jan 14 #9

I totally agree with you. It's a big mistake to have trump Nixie Jan 14 #10

These people could actually go out and get a real job. valleyrogue Jan 14 #11

Many make way more money on TicToc womanofthehills Jan 14 #12

Many make way more money on TicToc womanofthehills Jan 14 #13

Erm...shouldn't the fact that Musk has completely trashed X be considered before any agency approves Baitball Blogger Jan 14 #14

There's now a push on TikTok to move to Chinese REDNOTE as a TikTok-Instagram replacement TheBlackAdder Jan 14 #15

keithbvadu2

(40,915 posts)

1. China spying by owning Tic Tok or Russia spying with Musk owning it?

Reply to 4th (Original post)

Mon Jan 13, 2025, 10:49 PM

Jan 13

Pardon me for not cheering.

EdmondDantes_

(209 posts)

3. To be fair, it's not like either country couldn't just buy the data

Reply to keithbvadu2 (Reply #1)

Mon Jan 13, 2025, 11:24 PM

Jan 13

There are so many data brokers and connecting people to "anonymous" data isn't nearly as hard as companies pretend.

keithbvadu2

(40,915 posts)

7. Yeah. Now Musk can be the seller/controller.

Reply to EdmondDantes_ (Reply #3)

Mon Jan 13, 2025, 11:33 PM

Jan 13

Mountainguy

(1,206 posts)

2. Would quickly drive it into the ground as well

Reply to 4th (Original post)

Mon Jan 13, 2025, 11:21 PM

Jan 13

Cut staff to a bare bones group of sycophants who can't keep up even the most basic services users expect.

scipan

(2,701 posts)

4. Oh dog please no.

Reply to 4th (Original post)

Mon Jan 13, 2025, 11:27 PM

Jan 13

Why would they sell to Leon the shadow POTUS?

Maybe I just answered my own question...

0rganism

(24,846 posts)

6. MmmHmm, it all makes the worst kind of sense, when you put it in their light

Reply to scipan (Reply #4)

Mon Jan 13, 2025, 11:33 PM

Jan 13

Gee, why would China sell TikTok to Musk? Why indeed?

scipan

(2,701 posts)

8. Well then forget antitrust. But he will throttle any progressives

Reply to 0rganism (Reply #6)

Tue Jan 14, 2025, 12:52 AM

Jan 14

Promoting another exit like with xitter to probably bluesky or some unknown video friendly site. Might not be bad in the end.

It's all good... I hope.

Mr.WeRP

(692 posts)

5. Saw this coming over a month ago

Reply to 4th (Original post)

Mon Jan 13, 2025, 11:31 PM

Jan 13

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100219797956

scipan

(2,701 posts)

9. Yes you nailed it.

Reply to Mr.WeRP (Reply #5)

Tue Jan 14, 2025, 12:54 AM

Jan 14

Nixie

(17,491 posts)

10. I totally agree with you. It's a big mistake to have trump

Reply to Mr.WeRP (Reply #5)

Tue Jan 14, 2025, 01:01 AM

Jan 14

look like he’s saving TikTok. Lots of people are monetized there through affiliate marketing, etc, so this is upsetting for a lot of people who just consider it free speech that’s being censored.

valleyrogue

(1,360 posts)

11. These people could actually go out and get a real job.

Reply to Nixie (Reply #10)

Tue Jan 14, 2025, 09:40 AM

Jan 14

Not to mention the fact almost everybody plasters their faces on their TikTok videos doesn't really help them privacy wise.

I don't care for TikTok. If it is gone, good riddance.

womanofthehills

(9,436 posts)

12. Many make way more money on TicToc

Reply to valleyrogue (Reply #11)

Tue Jan 14, 2025, 10:50 AM

Jan 14

Than they would make at a real job. Thousands of handicapped kids make a living on TicToc.

Bad idea for Dems to do this for future votes from young. One third of all US adults are on TicToc. Do we need Trump promoting that he will save TicToc.

Anyway- China says it’s not selling.

“TikTok says report of possible sale to Musk 'pure fiction'”

“TikTok has called a report that China is considering allowing a sale of the social media company's US operations to Elon Musk "pure fiction."
The firm's comments came in response to a report by Bloomberg that Chinese officials are weighing an option that could see its business in America being sold to the world's richest person if the US Supreme Court upholds a ban on the app”

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78w9zz62ego