Employees and shareholders of Southern California-based video-game holding company Activision Blizzard (ATVI) have called for the resignation of CEO Bobby Kotick after a Wall Street Journal report Tuesday revealed he was aware of sexual misconduct allegations but did not inform the board of directors. "In contrast to past company statements, CEO Bobby Kotick was aware of many incidents of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and gender discrimination at Activision Blizzard, but failed either to ensure that the executives and managers responsible were terminated or to recognize and address the systematic nature of the company's hostile workplace culture," read a letter from shareholders to the board of directors and provided to the Washington Post. After the Journal's report, over 100 Activision Blizzard employees staged a walkout. Along with Kotick, long-time directors Robert Morgado and chairman of the board Brian Kelly were also called on to resign. Kotick disputed the Journal's report and would later share a video message to employees that called for a zero-tolerance policy.

Activision Blizzard has confirmed an investigation by US regulators following allegations of sexual misconduct and discrimination at one of the world's most high-profile video game companies. The California-based company said on Tuesday that it was complying with a recent Securities and Exchange Commission subpoena sent to current and former employees and executives and the company itself on "employment matters and related issues". The Wall Street Journal had reported on Monday that the SEC was investigating how the company had treated complaints of sexual misconduct and workplace discrimination and had subpoenaed senior executives including the CEO, Bobby Kotick, a well-known tech billionaire. An SEC spokesman declined to comment. Activision Blizzard – the maker of popular video games including Candy Crush, Call of Duty, Overwatch and World of Warcraft – also said on Tuesday that it had cooperated with an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigation into employment practices and that it was working with multiple regulators "on addressing and resolving workplace complaints it has received" and that it was committed to making the company "one of the best, most inclusive places to work".

Google engineer Raksha Muthukumar is among more than 500 employees of the tech giant who this week announced the formation of a labor union, a rarity in Silicon Valley. Google engineer Raksha Muthukumar is among more than 500 employees of the tech giant who this week announced the formation of a labor union, a rarity in Silicon Valley. After the death of George Floyd, Google engineer Raksha Muthukumar sent an email to colleagues. In it, she pointed to a list of criminal justice reform groups and bail funds for protesters who were seeking contributions. Soon after, Muthukumar was summoned into a meeting with Google's human relations department.