The Biggest Deal In Gaming Is Under Fire From U.S. Senators:
Four U.S. senators have torpedoed Microsoft's $69 billion deal for Activision. They believe that the consolidation of the high-tech industry and corporate culture of gender misconduct at Activision could expand by the transaction. Democrat senators think that the planned takeover could undermine employees' calls for accountability over alleged gender and sexual harassment at the game developer.
Senators Elizabeth Warren (D), Bernie Sanders (I), Cory Booker (D), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D) are distraught with the fact that Robert Kotick, chief exec of Activision, will remain at the helm of the game company until closing in 2023. With the same head, the culture of misconduct will not go away, they assume. Another point they are concerned about is the consolidation of the high-tech industry in general and its impact on the workforce. Given their concerns, they wrote a letter to the Federal Trade Commission in an attempt to block the deal.
"We are deeply concerned about consolidation in the tech industry and its impact on workers," the letter obtained by the Wall Street Journal reads. "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 senators demand that FTC oppose the deal if it finds that it can worsen the negotiating position between workers and companies (in this case, Microsoft represents both entities).
Previously:
Microsoft Set to Purchase Activision Blizzard in $68.7 Billion Deal
(Score: 3, Touché) by Immerman on Tuesday April 05 2022, @02:48AM (1 child)
Yeah... seems like an indefinite complete prohibition on mergers and acquisitions should be a mandatory minimum penalty for a convicted abusive monopolist. Come back after a decade to have your conduct re-evaluated and, if it's been beyond reproach, possibly enter a probationary period requiring consent of a jury of your victims.
(Score: 1, Offtopic) by DeathMonkey on Tuesday April 05 2022, @07:55PM
Getting let completely off the hook by the President of the United States of America will do that!
Bush hasn't been in office for decades now though. Instead or rehashing the early 2000s what should we do about it now?