Bobby Kotick, the former CEO of Activision Blizzard, is reportedly considering buying TikTok amidst threats of a US ban or forced sale. A new bill was introduced in the US Congress that could require the app’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell within six months or face a ban from US app stores.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
Kotick, who led Activision for over 30 years, faced controversy in 2021 over allegations of fostering a toxic workplace culture. Despite calls for his resignation, he remained until Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 2023.
TikTok has been actively engaging its US users to oppose the bill, sending push notifications to call their representatives. The potential sale of TikTok, however, raises concerns about data privacy and the platform’s ties to China, as partnering with OpenAI could pose risks for user data.
TF Summary: What’s Next
The new US bill threatens its TikTok’s future in the US as concerns over data privacy and ties to China continue. TikTok’s destiny in the US may only be saved if Kotick, or another tech giant or venture groups, steps in aggressively.