Bobby Kotickformer leader of Taking action Blizzard is said to be considering a purchase TikToksince this program may be banned in the United States. The Wall Street Journal reported that Kotick had spoken to him ByteDancethe company that owns TikTok, buying the app, which will cost billions of dollars.
This comes as US lawmakers are introducing a new bill that would force ByteDance to sell TikTok within six months or stop it from being available in US stores. President Joe Biden has said he will approve the bill once it passes Congress.
The Wall Street Journal report adds that Kotick, the head of OpenAI, Sam Altmandiscussed a deal to buy TikTok over dinner last week.
Kotick’s interest in TikTok follows the end of his 30-year run at Activision Blizzard, which Microsoft acquired last year. The company faced a lawsuit alleging it allowed harassment and discrimination under Kotick’s leadership. The Wall Street Journal also reported that Kotick was aware of the misconduct and did not tell the team. Kotick was accused of harassment, but Activision Blizzard said the report was “misleading.”
Lawmakers are concerned about data privacy and TikTok’s ties to China. US President Biden, whose administration has already banned the program on government equipment, has indicated that he supports banning the program in the US. However, former President Donald Trump, who previously wanted to ban TikTok, has changed his mind, saying that the ban would help TikTok’s rivals, such as Facebook and YouTube.
While the anti-TikTok bill is being supported, the app has asked its American users to speak up, sending messages telling users to call their representatives. The bill, which passed committee last week, is expected to be approved when the House votes on Wednesday. If it passes, it will go to the Senate, and then the bill will be signed by the US President. Activision’s former boss says he wants to buy TikTok
