China blocks Meta's $2 billion acquisition of AI startup Manus

China's regulators have blocked Meta's acquisition of Manus, an AI startup now based in Singapore but founded in China. The move reflects China's strict laws controlling the export or sale of tech to foreign firms.

In March, Manus' two co-founders were prevented from leaving the country during a regulatory review of the acquisition. Meta stated the Manus team was already integrated into Meta and running the Manus service for millions of users.

Unwinding the acquisition may cause difficulty for Meta, according to the article. The block occurs amid broader US-China tensions over technology, including US concerns about foreign entities copying American AI models.