Former Activision Chief Kotick Mulls TikTok Buyout Amidst U.S. Ban Threat

Bobby Kotick, the former CEO of Activision Blizzard, is reportedly exploring a potential acquisition of TikTok, amidst growing concerns and potential bans in the United States.

Bobby Kotick, the former CEO of Activision Blizzard, is considering purchasing TikTok.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Kotick has engaged in discussions with ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, regarding a possible purchase. The deal could amount to hundreds of billions of dollars.

This development coincides with the introduction of a new bill by US lawmakers that would require ByteDance to divest TikTok within six months or face a ban from US app stores. President Joe Biden has indicated his willingness to approve the bill should it pass Congress.

The Wall Street Journal further reports that Kotick and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman discussed a potential collaboration to acquire TikTok during a dinner meeting last week.

Kotick's interest in TikTok emerges following a controversial conclusion to his three-decade tenure at the helm of Activision Blizzard. During his leadership, the company faced a lawsuit alleging the prevalence of sexual harassment and discrimination. The Wall Street Journal also alleged that Kotick was aware of the misconduct but failed to fully inform the board. While Kotick himself faced accusations of harassment, Activision Blizzard has refuted the report as "misleading".

Lawmakers have expressed concerns regarding data privacy and TikTok's connections to China. President Biden's administration has already prohibited the app on state-issued devices and voiced support for a nationwide ban. However, former President Donald Trump, who previously sought to ban TikTok, has reversed his stance, suggesting that a ban would benefit TikTok's competitors, such as Facebook and YouTube.

As the bill targeting TikTok gains momentum, the app has urged its American users to advocate on its behalf, prompting them to contact their representatives. The bill, which passed a committee vote last week, is anticipated to be approved by the House. If successful, it will proceed to the Senate, and subsequently, to the President for final approval.