China Reviews Meta’s Purchase of AI Startup Manus Over Possible Tech Control Violations, FT Reports
Chinese authorities are reviewing Meta Platforms’s acquisition of artificial intelligence startup Manus for potential violations of China’s technology export control rules, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.
According to the report, officials from China’s commerce ministry are assessing whether the relocation of Manus’ staff and technology to Singapore, followed by its sale to Meta, should have required an export license under Chinese law. The review is said to be at a preliminary stage and may not result in a formal investigation.
However, the Financial Times noted that if an export license were deemed necessary, it could give Beijing leverage over the transaction and, in an extreme scenario, potentially force the parties to abandon the deal. Reuters said it could not immediately verify the report. Meta and Manus did not respond to requests for comment.
Meta acquired Manus last month, with a source familiar with the matter previously telling Reuters that the deal valued the Singapore-based company at between $2 billion and $3 billion.
Manus drew widespread attention earlier this year after its product went viral on X. The startup claimed to have developed the world’s first general AI agent capable of autonomously making decisions and executing tasks with minimal prompting, positioning it as a potential rival to AI systems such as ChatGPT and DeepSeek.
The reported review comes amid heightened scrutiny by Chinese regulators over outbound transfers of advanced technology, particularly as geopolitical tensions rise and governments seek to safeguard strategic AI capabilities.