Bobby KotickFormer head of Activity Blizzard, reportedly considering buying TikTokAs the app may be banned in the United States. The Wall Street Journal reports that Kotick has spoken. The Bite Dancethe company that owns TikTok, about buying the app, which could cost hundreds of billions of dollars.
It comes as US lawmakers introduced a new bill that would bar ByteDance from selling TikTok or making it available in US app stores within six months. President Joe Biden has said that if the bill passes in Congress, he will pass it.
The Wall Street Journal report further states that Kotak, head of Open AI, Sam Altmandiscussed teaming up to buy TikTok over dinner last week.
Kotak’s interest in TikTok follows the rough demise of its 30-year flagship Activision Blizzard, which was acquired by Microsoft last year. The company faced a lawsuit saying it allowed sexual harassment and discrimination under Kotick’s leadership. The Wall Street Journal also said Kotick knew about the bad behavior and didn’t tell the board everything. Kotak 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 app from state devices, has expressed support for banning the app in the US. However, former President Donald Trump, who once wanted to ban TikTok, has changed his mind, saying the ban would help TikTok’s competitors, such as Facebook and YouTube.
As the bill against TikTok gains support, the app has asked its US users to speak up for it, sending messages asking users to call their representatives. The bill, which was approved by a committee last week, is expected to pass 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. Former Activision boss reportedly wants to buy TikTok
