AI startup Manus says it will soon return to operating as an independent company following its separation from Meta. The company was earlier in talks with Meta over a $2 billion acquisition deal. However, Chinese regulators reportedly intervened and ordered the Singapore-based firm unwound the deal. Manus says the separation is necessary to comply with regulatory requirements in specific parts of the world.
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In a note to users published on Tuesday, Manus said the move back to independent operations is necessary to comply with regulatory requirements in specific jurisdictions. The transition will affect some user accounts, particularly data created on or after December 29, 2025, when Meta announced its acquisition of Manus. This data will be deleted between August 23 and August 24, Singapore time, as part of the separation.
What Manus AI users need to do?
Affected users can back up their data until 7:59am on August 23 and restore it from 8am on August 25. Those whose accounts are not affected can continue using Manus as normal without taking any action. The company has also rolled out backup and restoration tools, with affected users being notified through the app and by email. Users who signed up with an Apple ID or Facebook account, however, have been asked to check their in-app notifications as Manus does not have their email addresses.
The backup window is already open and supports multiple backups, so users can save any new task data they create before the deadline. Manus notes that it will not charge affected users during the backup period and plans to offer welcome-back bonuses after their data is restored.
Once the window closes, affected users will temporarily lose access to their accounts during the two-day deletion period. They will regain access on August 25, when the restoration portal opens. Manus also makes clear that the disruption is not linked to a data breach or security incident, but is instead part of its separation from Meta to meet regulatory requirements. User data is stored in the US and Singapore.
Why Manus is separating from Meta
In late 2025 Meta decided to acquire Manus in a deal reportedly worth around $2 billion. The acquisition was announced in December as part of Meta’s broader push to expand its AI business and bring Manus’ AI agent technology into its products and services. However, the deal soon faced regulatory scrutiny in China. While Manus is based and working from Singapore, the company initially started its operation from Chna before moving.
Following Meta’s acquisition announcement, Chinese regulators reportedly intervened in the transaction and ordered the parties to unwind the deal. The move was reportedly linked to concerns over AI technology being transferred from a Chinese-founded company to a US tech giant, amid growing US-China tensions over AI.
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