Report: US Senators urge FTC to scrutinize Microsoft/Activision merger
Enlarge (credit: Aurich Lawson / Ars Technica)
Four US senators have sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Lina Khan expressing concern about Microsoft's proposed $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
In the letter, Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) express worry that the merger could hurt efforts to hold Activision management accountable for widespread allegations of abuse, sexual harassment, and discrimination at Activision Blizzard. The letter also takes specific issue with reports that Activision CEO Bobby Kotick will be allowed to stay until the merger is finalized and that the embattled executive might have negotiated a "graceful exit" as part of the merger talks.
"This lack of accountability, despite shareholders, employees, and the public calling for Kotick to be held responsible for the culture he created, would be an unacceptable result of the proposed Microsoft acquisition," the letter reads in part, according to the report. The senators also expressed general concern about "consolidation in the tech industry and its impact on workers."