On January 7th, according to the Financial Times, Chinese authorities are reviewing Meta's $2 billion acquisition of artificial intelligence platform Manus to determine whether it violates technology export controls.
It is reported that this transaction is a rare case of an American technology company acquiring a cutting-edge AI startup with Chinese background. According to informed sources, the Ministry of Commerce has begun evaluating whether the process of relocating the Manus team and related technologies to Singapore and subsequently selling them to Meta requires an export license in accordance with the law.
Insiders say that the review is still in its early stages and may not escalate into a formal investigation. But once it is determined that an export license is required, the Chinese side will have the right to intervene in this acquisition case.
Some insiders believe that the Meta Manus deal has attracted attention in part because it may have a demonstration effect on Chinese AI startups, by relocating as a whole to avoid domestic regulation. However, another celebrity stated that Manus' focus on AI assistant products is not a core technology of strategic significance to China, and the need for urgent intervention is not high.
It is reported that Manus' previous relocation to Singapore was related to a financing round led by American venture capital Benchmark, which triggered a compliance review by the US Treasury Department on US capital investment in China's AI field under new regulations.
Professor Cui Fan from the University of International Business and Economics suggests that any review of the Meta acquisition case in China should focus on whether the Manus team developed export controlled technologies during their time in China.
He wrote: If the unauthorized export of restricted technology is proven, it may result in legal liability... including criminal liability. The idea that quickly severing ties with China can bypass the regulatory systems of the United States and China may be too simplistic.
According to previous reports, on December 30, 2025, the intelligent agent startup company Manus announced that it will soon join Meta. Manus will continue to provide products and subscription services to users through its app and website, while the company will continue to operate in Singapore.
Manus CEO Xiao Hong said, "Joining forces with Meta enables us to develop on a stronger and more sustainable basis without changing Manus' operating methods and decision-making mechanisms. ”According to data from early December 2025, Manus has processed over 147 trillion tokens and created over 80 million virtual computers since its launch.
According to a later report by LatePost, Meta has acquired Butterfly Effect, a company that develops AI application Manus, for billions of dollars. This is Meta's third largest acquisition since its establishment, with costs second only to WhatsApp and Scale AI. Prior to Meta's acquisition, Manus was conducting a new round of financing at a valuation of $2 billion. After the acquisition is completed, Butterfly Effect Company will maintain independent operation, with founder Xiao Hong appointed as Vice President of Meta.
