US ban on TikTok to hit 7 mn businesses, cost US $24 bn: ByteDance

TikTok-parent ByteDance's spokesperson said a US bill aiming to ban TikTok in the country will "devastate" seven million businesses. Banning TikTok would cost the US economy $24 billion and "trample the free speech rights of 170 million Americans", the spokesperson added. Meanwhile, X owner Elon Musk said TikTok shouldn't be banned in US, "even though [it] may benefit X platform".