According to the latest reports, the video game publisher Activision Blizzard’s legal dispute is continuing, and the company is under investigation by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The investigation stems from a lawsuit filed by the State of California against the company, accusing the company of poor working conditions, including sexual misconduct and discrimination.
The SEC subpoenaed Activision, requesting it to provide documents related to sexual misconduct complaints since 2019, board meeting minutes and other disclosure information. The company’s CEO Bobby Kotick and other executives were also asked to investigate, and current and former employees were also subpoenaed.
Activision Blizzard did not immediately respond to reporters’ requests for comment. Helaine Klasky, a spokesperson for the company, told the Wall Street Journal that the company is cooperating with the SEC’s investigation. The Wall Street Journal reported the findings of the investigation earlier on Monday.
In July of this year, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing filed a lawsuit against Activision Blizzard, accusing the company of having a fraternal working environment. The complaint alleges that the company’s women have not received fair compensation and have been harassed.
After the lawsuit, several prominent members of the company resigned, including Blizzard president J. Last week, the National Labor Relations Board complained to Activision, saying it threatened or intimidated employees because they talked publicly about harassment in the workplace.
