AI startup Manus is returning to operate as an independent company after Chinese regulators block Meta’s acquisition of the company. Multiple outlets report that Manus notifies users that it will soon resume independent operations following the unwind of Meta’s deal.
Meta’s acquisition, announced in December for about $2 billion, is being reversed after Beijing determined the transaction could not proceed. Outlets describe the reversal as part of broader US–China decoupling in technology and highlight the regulatory basis, including national security grounds. The Next Web and Quartz add that the process includes steps to save users’ work before a stated deadline, and that some user data may be deleted as part of the transition.
Reporting converges on the same sequence: Meta’s planned purchase is canceled or unwound due to China’s regulatory action, Manus transitions back to independence, and users face operational changes. Differences across outlets mainly involve emphasis—some focus on the deal’s size and Meta’s AI strategy, while others emphasize the user deadline and the data deletion process.
