Former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick Reportedly Explores TikTok Buyout Amid US Ban Threat

Bobby Kotick, the former chief executive of Activision Blizzard, is reportedly exploring the possibility of acquiring TikTok, amid growing concerns and potential bans in the United States.

Bobby Kotick ponders the possibility of acquiring the popular social media platform, TikTok.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Kotick has engaged in discussions with ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, regarding a potential buyout of the app. Such a deal could amount to hundreds of billions of dollars.

This development surfaces as U.S. lawmakers introduce new legislation that would compel ByteDance to divest TikTok within six months or face prohibition from U.S. app stores. President Joe Biden has indicated his approval of the bill, should it successfully pass through Congress.

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

Kotick's interest in TikTok emerges after a controversial end to his 30-year tenure leading Activision Blizzard, which was acquired by Microsoft last year. The company faced allegations of fostering a workplace culture that enabled sexual harassment and discrimination under Kotick's leadership. The Wall Street Journal also alleged that Kotick was aware of the misconduct but failed to fully inform the board. While Kotick faced accusations of harassment, Activision Blizzard refuted the report as "misleading."

Lawmakers are primarily concerned about data privacy and TikTok's connections to China. President Biden's administration has already banned the app on state-issued devices and has expressed support for a broader ban in the U.S. However, former President Donald Trump, who previously sought to ban TikTok, has reversed his stance, arguing that a ban would primarily 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 them to contact their elected representatives. The bill, which recently cleared a committee, is expected to pass when the House votes on Wednesday. If approved, it will proceed to the Senate for consideration, and ultimately, if passed by both houses, will be signed into law by the President of the United States.