Thread: Four US senators ‘deeply concerned’ about proposed Xbox Activision merger

Grisham

Ensuring Transparency
On Thursday, US senators Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Sheldon Whitehouse and Cory Booker sent a letter to FTC chairwoman Lina Khan expressing their concern that the deal "threatens worker-led demands for accountability" over allegations of sexual misconduct and discrimination at Activision Blizzard.

"The proposed merger has already impeded unionization efforts and undermined workers' calls for accountability," they wrote. "Over 1,800 Activision Blizzard employees signed a letter calling on Mr. Kotick to step down from the organization, one of union organizers' key demands.

"However, Microsoft's proposed deal with Activision Blizzard is protecting Mr. Kotick, keeping him in his role as CEO until at least 2023 and guaranteeing him hundreds of millions in profit and a potential additional golden parachute worth over $14.5 million if he does not step down voluntarily.

"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."

In response, an Activision spokeswoman told the Wall Street Journal that no additional special compensation arrangements were made for Kotick in connection with the Microsoft deal.

"This is a compelling transaction for all stakeholders, including employees," she said.

And on the subject of workplace culture improvements, Microsoft corporate vice president and general counsel Lisa Tanzi told WSJ: "We believe Activision Blizzard will continue making progress, and we're committed to further progress after the deal closes."

 
I always knew Corey Booker was a PlayStation fanboy!


On a more serious note, these are weak reasons to be against the sale.
 
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On Thursday, US senators Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Sheldon Whitehouse and Cory Booker sent a letter to FTC chairwoman Lina Khan expressing their concern that the deal "threatens worker-led demands for accountability" over allegations of sexual misconduct and discrimination at Activision Blizzard.

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as if bernie sanders understands anything about capitalism
 
Based on the names alone, I can say this is more of the same power-grabbing behavior they've tried in the past. Suddenly it's bad for massive entertainment corpos to merge? lolokay

It's a problem they create, and then of course they show up to offer the solution, which will conveniently put more power in their hands. They play both sides, and we lose either way.
 
Based on the names alone, I can say this is more of the same power-grabbing behavior they've tried in the past. Suddenly it's bad for massive entertainment corpos to merge? lolokay

It's a problem they create, and then of course they show up to offer the solution, which will conveniently put more power in their hands. They play both sides, and we lose either way.
idk they break up the merger then it would actually be a good thing. I think its more about slowly putting big tech in their place by using any excuse they can think of after all their more powerful than the us government. Think about it for a sec these companies are better organized than our own government, are wealthier, and control a ton of their weapons. Their desperate to put mircrosoft in their place and microsoft is stifling technological growth. So I think its a good thing to break it up and any low blow politicians can deal to them is gonna make it count after all they just spent a ton of money on the merger if the government trys squeezing more money out of them then its no harm done to me or anyone else.
 
idk they break up the merger then it would actually be a good thing. I think its more about slowly putting big tech in their place by using any excuse they can think of after all their more powerful than the us government. Think about it for a sec these companies are better organized than our own government, are wealthier, and control a ton of their weapons. Their desperate to put mircrosoft in their place and microsoft is stifling technological growth. So I think its a good thing to break it up and any low blow politicians can deal to them is gonna make it count after all they just spent a ton of money on the merger if the government trys squeezing more money out of them then its no harm done to me or anyone else.

I think it's a mistake to approve the use of their time in this way.

People are losing their homes and losing any chance they have of retirement. Government is overstepping its constitutional powers in some respects yet openly neglecting its duty in other respects.

But oh no Microsoft might put Cawadooty on Game Pass. I want the same result you want, and I see the same problems you see, I just don't think giving gov't more power is the best way to achieve it. The gaming market is heading for a crash anyway, why not let the "invisible hand of the free market" handle it?
 
I mean they are right. It is concerning. However, its wayyyyyy too late to be concerned. On the grand scheme of things that got approved in the tech world this ranks far low on the list. Pulling out the political card now is pointless.
 
I think it's a mistake to approve the use of their time in this way.

People are losing their homes and losing any chance they have of retirement. Government is overstepping its constitutional powers in some respects yet openly neglecting its duty in other respects.

But oh no Microsoft might put Cawadooty on Game Pass. I want the same result you want, and I see the same problems you see, I just don't think giving gov't more power is the best way to achieve it. The gaming market is heading for a crash anyway, why not let the "invisible hand of the free market" handle it?
I don't think you quite understood whats going on. A huge part of why were the way we are now is because of big tech companies brainwashing people. Think back for a sec like a decade ago. Nobody was talking about race or gender as much as we are now big tech enforced that and as a result the politicians get less power and influence. Lets take a site like youtube for example. Terrible people get promoted on the platform on purpose and they spout their ignorance to the masses which immediately lap it up regardless of how stupid they are. In a way think of how al capone was caught he did numerous different crimes but the only thing he was sent to jail for was tax evasion. Big tech is the same problem as the mafia but even worse. Yeah none of them have anything in mind but themselves and big tech is about to fall on its face anyways why not speed up the fall.
 
I don't think you quite understood whats going on. A huge part of why were the way we are now is because of big tech companies brainwashing people.

You think the emphasis on race and gender over the last decade (decade?!) is because of big tech?

No, I don't think you quite understand what's going on.

Yeah none of them have anything in mind but themselves and big tech is about to fall on its face anyways why not speed up the fall.

Why should we trust politicians -- who also have nothing in mind but themselves -- to actually speed up the fall? The same grifters who bailed out corpos and banks in the past will hold videogame companies to a higher standard?

lolokay
 
You think the emphasis on race and gender over the last decade (decade?!) is because of big tech?
actually yes they are to blame you blind?


twitter facebook instagram and tiktok are all platforms that have hurt peoples minds due to corporate brainwashing. The advertising industry is the sole backbone of these kinds of platforms and the only reason they exist. By making people dumber their advertisers gain money trying to sell them some useless crap they don't need. These companies hold more power over popular opinion than the us government and that scares them so of course politicians are gonna act out against it.
 
actually yes they are to blame you blind?


twitter facebook instagram and tiktok are all platforms that have hurt peoples minds due to corporate brainwashing. The advertising industry is the sole backbone of these kinds of platforms and the only reason they exist. By making people dumber their advertisers gain money trying to sell them some useless crap they don't need. These companies hold more power over popular opinion than the us government and that scares them so of course politicians are gonna act out against it.

You're misunderstanding my point. Yeah, these tech companies have participated in brainwashing and propaganda, I'm not disagreeing on that, but so have the politicians you hope will swoop in and fix the problem. Seems naive.

Elizabeth Warren lied and continues to lie about her native American heritage. Bernie Sanders is a grifter in socialist disguise, to put it nicely. Cory Booker stood up for Blaisey-Ford and "her truth". These are off the top of my head, and since I don't recognize Whitehouse admittedly I can't comment there without looking further, but the previous three examples should be enough of a price paid for that sliver of laziness.
 
You're misunderstanding my point. Yeah, these tech companies have participated in brainwashing and propaganda, I'm not disagreeing on that, but so have the politicians you hope will swoop in and fix the problem. Seems naive.

Elizabeth Warren lied and continues to lie about her native American heritage. Bernie Sanders is a grifter in socialist disguise, to put it nicely. Cory Booker stood up for Blaisey-Ford and "her truth". These are off the top of my head, and since I don't recognize Whitehouse admittedly I can't comment there without looking further, but the previous three examples should be enough of a price paid for that sliver of laziness.
i'm saying its a power struggle and they gain from taking down big tech so they can parade around acting like their existence means something but yes your right about them being stupid. And I seriously doubt they would even care if microsoft wasn't so influential in the software space.