Meta faced a significant obstacle after acquiring Manus, which develops autonomous AI agents. The Chinese government drew attention by halting this acquisition process. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) stated that Meta's acquisition of the Manus application did not comply with current investment regulations.
In a statement by the NDRC, it was expressed that the legality of transferring Manus to a foreign company was questioned as a result of the investigation, and therefore the sale was prohibited. It was also emphasized that the parties must return the previously determined transfer fee.
Manus Application and Its Impacts
Manus is described as an AI tool capable of autonomously performing complex tasks. It is claimed that Meta acquired this application for approximately 2 to 3 billion dollars in December 2025; however, the company has not disclosed exact financial details. It is also known that after the acquisition, Meta began integrating Manus technology into its social media platforms, WhatsApp and Instagram.
The decision made as a result of the investigation initiated by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce in January 2026 seems to add a new dimension to the technology competition between the US and China.