Former Activision Chief Bobby Kotick Weighs Bid for TikTok Amid US Ban Threat

Bobby Kotick, the former CEO of Activision Blizzard, is reportedly exploring a potential acquisition of TikTok, as the popular video-sharing app faces a possible ban in the United States. According to The Wall Street Journal, Kotick has engaged in discussions with ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, regarding a potential purchase that 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 sign the bill into law should it receive Congressional approval.

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

Kotick's interest in TikTok emerges following a tumultuous end to his three-decade tenure leading Activision Blizzard, which was acquired by Microsoft last year. The company faced a lawsuit alleging the existence of a workplace culture that tolerated sexual harassment and discrimination under Kotick's leadership. The Wall Street Journal also reported that Kotick was aware of instances of misconduct but failed to fully inform the board. While Kotick has faced accusations of harassment, Activision Blizzard has dismissed the reports as "misleading."

Lawmakers have voiced concerns regarding data privacy and TikTok's connections to China. President Biden's administration has already prohibited the app on government-issued devices and has expressed support for a nationwide ban. However, former President Donald Trump, who previously sought to ban TikTok, has 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 urged its American users to advocate on its behalf, prompting users to contact their elected representatives. The bill, having already passed a committee vote last week, is anticipated to pass in the House of Representatives vote. If approved, it will then proceed to the Senate before potentially being signed into law by the President of the United States.