Amidst the looming threat of a potential ban on TikTok in the United States, Bobby Kotick, former head of Activision Blizzard, is reportedly contemplating an acquisition of the popular social media platform. The possibility arises as US lawmakers introduce legislation compelling ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to divest its ownership within six months or face removal from US app stores, with President Biden signaling support for the bill.
According to reports from The Wall Street Journal, Kotick has engaged in discussions with ByteDance regarding the purchase of TikTok, a move that could involve an investment of hundreds of billions of dollars. Notably, Kotick, who now leads OpenAI, was recently reported to have explored a potential collaboration with OpenAI’s head, Sam Altman, to pursue the acquisition during a recent dinner meeting.
Kotick’s interest in TikTok comes on the heels of his departure from Activision Blizzard following a tumultuous period marked by allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination within the company. Although Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard last year, Kotick faced criticism over his handling of the situation, with accusations of failure to disclose pertinent information to the board.
Concerns surrounding data privacy and TikTok’s ties to China have fueled calls for stringent action against the app, with President Biden previously indicating support for banning it on government devices. However, former President Donald Trump, who previously advocated for a TikTok ban, has reversed his stance, suggesting that such a move would benefit competitors like Facebook and YouTube.
As the legislative push against TikTok gains momentum, the app has urged its American users to advocate on its behalf, urging them to contact their representatives. The bill, which passed through committee last week, is anticipated to secure approval in the House before proceeding to the Senate for consideration and eventual enactment by the President.
