Elon Musk Dismisses Interest in Acquiring TikTok
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has ruled out purchasing social media platform TikTok, despite previous suggestions that he might be interested in taking on the Chinese-owned business.
Speaking via videolink at a German forum last month, Musk stated that he has “no plans” for acquiring TikTok and is not “chomping at the bit” to take control of the social media giant. The comments emerged over the weekend, sparking speculation that Musk’s interest in TikTok may have been overstated.
TikTok has faced intense scrutiny from the US government over concerns that the platform may be sharing user data with the Chinese government, raising national security concerns. Last November, the company was ordered to divest its US operations, or face a ban on operating in the country.
However, former President Donald Trump took swift action to pause the ban after he was inaugurated for a second term, citing concerns that the platform may be essential to US commerce. Trump later suggested that he would be open to Musk purchasing the platform, but it appears that Musk has now ruled out any involvement with TikTok.
Musk’s business empire includes social media giant Twitter, which he acquired in 2022, renaming it X. However, since taking control of the platform, Musk has faced criticism for allowing hate speech and disinformation to spread on the platform. Rights campaigners have warned that Musk’s takeover of Twitter has been disastrous for free speech and online safety.
Meanwhile, Musk’s close ties to former President Trump are also raising eyebrows. Musk was a key financial supporter of Trump’s presidential campaign and is leading the former President’s efforts to slash government spending. His “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOG) has targeted a range of federal government agencies and regulators, with the apparent goal of dismantling them and firing staff.
On Saturday, a US judge blocked Musk’s government reform team from accessing personal and financial data for millions of Americans stored at the Treasury Department, casting a shadow over the former President’s plans for government reform.
Musk’s comments on social issues also raised eyebrows. At the German forum, he denounced Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives as “simply racism rebranded”. The comment sparked outrage from rights groups, who pointed out that DEI initiatives are designed to promote equality and protect historically oppressed communities.
Musk’s remarks come as US officials are racing to dismantle DEI initiatives across the federal bureaucracy, with many federal agencies being forced to scrap diversity training programs and grants. The efforts have been widely criticized as a bid to silence marginalized voices and roll back hard-won gains in civil rights.
In Germany, Musk has also sparked controversy by expressing support for the far-right anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which has been shunned by many in the country due to its anti-migrant stance and links to the country’s Nazi past.
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