Former Activision CEO Kotick Mulls TikTok Bid Amid US Ban Pressure

Bobby Kotick, the former CEO of Activision Blizzard, is reportedly exploring the possibility of acquiring TikTok, amid growing concerns and potential bans in the United States. According to The Wall Street Journal, Kotick has engaged in discussions with ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, regarding a potential acquisition deal that could amount to hundreds of billions of dollars.

This news surfaces as US lawmakers introduce new legislation that would mandate ByteDance to divest TikTok within a six-month timeframe or face prohibition from US app stores. Data privacy is at the center of the debate over the platform.

President Joe Biden has indicated his willingness to approve the bill should it successfully pass through Congress.

The Wall Street Journal further reports that Kotick and OpenAI head, Sam Altman, discussed the possibility of collaborating on a TikTok acquisition during a recent dinner.

Kotick's interest in TikTok emerges following the conclusion of his 30-year tenure leading Activision Blizzard, which was acquired by Microsoft last year. His leadership was marred by a lawsuit alleging the company fostered an environment of sexual harassment and discrimination. Furthermore, The Wall Street Journal reported that Kotick was aware of misconduct but failed to fully inform the board. While Kotick faced accusations of harassment, Activision Blizzard has refuted the report as "misleading."

Lawmakers are primarily concerned about data privacy and TikTok's ties to China. President Biden's administration has already implemented a ban on the app on state-issued devices. Former President Donald Trump, who initially sought to ban TikTok, has since reversed his stance, arguing that such a ban would benefit TikTok's competitors, such as Facebook and YouTube.

As the bill targeting TikTok gains momentum, the app has mobilized its American user base to advocate for its continued operation, urging users to contact their representatives. The bill, having already cleared a committee vote last week, is widely expected to pass when it is brought before the House for a vote on Wednesday. If approved, the bill will then proceed to the Senate for consideration, and subsequently, to the President for final approval.