Elon Musk doesn't support TikTok ban 'because it goes against freedom of speech'

'I have been against a TikTok ban for a long time,' Elon Musk said. (Image credit: AFP)

Elon Musk has reiterated his stance on the proposed TikTok ban, which US President Donald Trump has hence called off. On Sunday, the world's richest person reposted his April 19, 2024 tweet stating the TikTok ban, although beneficial for X, is unwarranted as it goes against the freedom of speech and expression and “is not what America stands for.”

"I have been against a TikTok ban for a long time, because it goes against freedom of speech," Musk wrote on X. "That said, the current situation where TikTok is allowed to operate in America, but X is not allowed to operate in China is unbalanced. Something needs to change."

I have been against a TikTok ban for a long time, because it goes against freedom of speech.That said, the current situation where TikTok is allowed to operate in America, but is not allowed to operate in China is unbalanced.Something needs to change. https://t.co/YVu2hkZEVZ

Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 19, 2025

On Sunday, TikTok stopped functioning for its 170 million American users after a law was enacted banning the app due to concerns from US politicians about the potential misuse of Americans' data by Chinese officials. Users attempting to access TikTok are met with a pop-up message informing them of the service's unavailability, and the app has been removed from the Apple App Store, along with other ByteDance-developed apps.

Former US President Joe Biden's administration had said last week that it would not enforce the ban and leave the decision of its implementation on Trump who vowed to reverse it.

Meanwhile, enraged by the ban, a 19-year-old man allegedly set fire to a local congressman's office, the police said on Sunday. According to local reports, the teen was arrested and charged with arson.