Chinese officials are reportedly in preliminary discussions to sell TikTok's U.S. operations to Elon Musk, should the short-video app fail to avoid a looming U.S. ban.

Bloomberg News reported on Monday that these talks are taking place amid escalating concerns over the app’s potential national security risks.

While Beijing prefers that TikTok remain under the control of its parent company, ByteDance, the future of the app is now uncertain as it faces increasing scrutiny in the U.S. over data privacy and its ties to China.

The U.S. government has expressed concerns that the Chinese government may have access to sensitive data collected by TikTok, sparking calls for its sale or ban.

The pressure has mounted as a U.S. law could compel ByteDance to divest TikTok's U.S. assets by January 19, 2025, unless it addresses national security concerns.

Should this law be upheld, TikTok’s U.S. operations could either be sold through a competitive process or potentially to a government-backed arrangement, with Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, emerging as a potential buyer.

China’s government holds a 'golden share' in ByteDance, a special stake that some U.S. lawmakers argue gives the Chinese government influence over TikTok’s operations.

While TikTok has denied any such influence, stating that the Chinese government does not control its operations outside of China, the company’s legal troubles continue to mount.

Musk’s involvement in these discussions is still unclear, with officials reportedly unable to reach a consensus on how to move forward.

A potential sale to Musk would bring TikTok’s U.S. operations under the umbrella of X, Musk’s platform, which has gained significant influence under his ownership.

However, as of now, there has been no official confirmation of talks between ByteDance, TikTok, and Musk.

TikTok, in response to Bloomberg’s report, dismissed the idea as 'pure fiction,' emphasizing that ByteDance's global operations, including TikTok, remain independent from the Chinese government's direct control.

The future of TikTok in the U.S. is increasingly uncertain as the legal deadline approaches.

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court appeared inclined to uphold a law that would enforce the sale or ban of TikTok by the January 19 deadline.

While U.S. lawmakers and tech experts continue to debate the app’s potential risks, the possibility of a sale to Musk would mark a significant shift in the ownership and control of one of the world’s most popular social media platforms.