Former Activision Boss Bobby Kotick Reportedly Interested in Buying TikTok
Reports have emerged suggesting that Bobby Kotick, the former head of Activision Blizzard, is contemplating the acquisition of TikTok amidst the looming threat of a ban in the United States. The Wall Street Journal has revealed that Kotick has engaged in discussions with ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, regarding a potential purchase of the popular app, with estimates pointing towards a valuation in the hundreds of billions of dollars.
This development comes in light of US lawmakers introducing a bill that would mandate ByteDance to divest TikTok within a span of six months or face removal from US app stores. President Joe Biden has indicated his willingness to support the bill pending its approval in Congress.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Kotick and the head of OpenAI, Sam Altman, explored the possibility of a collaborative bid to acquire TikTok during a recent dinner meeting. Kotick’s interest in TikTok comes after a turbulent conclusion to his three-decade tenure at Activision Blizzard, which was acquired by Microsoft last year amidst allegations of fostering a culture of sexual harassment and discrimination during Kotick’s leadership.
While Kotick was implicated in claims of misconduct, Activision Blizzard dismissed the allegations as “misleading.” Concerns surrounding data privacy and TikTok’s ties to China have raised apprehensions among lawmakers. President Biden’s administration, which had previously restricted the app on state devices, has voiced support for its prohibition in the US.
Conversely, former President Donald Trump, who initially advocated for TikTok’s ban, has reversed his stance, asserting that a ban would confer advantages upon TikTok’s competitors such as Facebook and YouTube. As the bill gains traction, TikTok has urged its American user base to advocate on its behalf by contacting their representatives.
The legislation, having cleared a committee last week, is poised for a vote in the House on Wednesday, following which it will progress to the Senate and eventually necessitate the President’s endorsement.
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