China will probe Meta's acquisition of Manus

China said it will assess Meta's acquisition of Singapore-based Manus for compliance with Chinese laws, and Meta announced the purchase and said Manus would discontinue operations in China with no continuing Chinese ownership interests.

China announced a review of Meta's purchase of the Singapore-based AI startup Manus and said relevant departments would be involved in assessing the deal. The Commerce Ministry spokesperson said authorities would investigate whether the acquisition complies with Chinese laws on outward investment, technology exports, data transfer and cross-border mergers and acquisitions. Meta announced the acquisition last week and said Manus would discontinue services and operations in China and that there would be no continuing Chinese ownership interests in Manus AI. Manus is registered in Singapore but its origins trace to entities that were founded in China. Key points: - China's Commerce Ministry said it will assess and investigate Meta's acquisition of Manus and will work with relevant departments on compliance with Chinese laws and regulations. - Meta announced the purchase and stated Manus would stop operating in China and that there would be no continuing Chinese ownership interests in Manus AI. - Manus is Singapore-based with roots tied to Beijing-registered entities, and the company reported a general-purpose AI agent and annual recurring revenue above US$100 million. Summary: This review underscores ongoing scrutiny of cross-border technology deals between China and foreign firms. Officials announced an assessment and investigation is underway; the outcome and timeline are undetermined at this time.