Activision's Former Chief Kotick Mulls Bid for TikTok Amid Ban Threat

Bobby Kotick, the former CEO of Activision Blizzard, is reportedly exploring a potential acquisition of TikTok, amidst growing concerns about the app's future in the United States.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Kotick has engaged in discussions with ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, regarding a possible purchase. The deal could amount to hundreds of billions of dollars. This development coincides with the introduction of new legislation in the U.S. that mandates ByteDance to divest TikTok within six months, or face removal from U.S. app stores.

President Joe Biden has indicated his willingness to sign the bill into law, should it pass Congress.

The Wall Street Journal also reported that Kotick and OpenAI head Sam Altman discussed a possible collaboration to acquire TikTok during a recent dinner.

Kotick's interest in TikTok surfaces after his departure from Activision Blizzard, which he led for 30 years before its acquisition by Microsoft last year. Activision Blizzard faced legal action alleging the company tolerated sexual harassment and discrimination under Kotick's leadership. Reports also suggested Kotick was aware of misconduct but did not fully disclose it to the board. While Kotick faced personal accusations of harassment, Activision Blizzard has refuted those claims as "misleading."

Lawmakers have voiced concerns regarding data privacy and TikTok's ties to China. President Biden's administration has already banned the app on state devices. Although former President Donald Trump previously sought to ban TikTok, he has since reversed his stance, arguing that 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 on its behalf, urging users to contact their representatives. The bill, which recently cleared a committee, is expected to be voted on by the House on Wednesday. If approved, it will proceed to the Senate for consideration, and ultimately, to the President for signature.