Manus AI agent platform forced to delete user data after Chinese regulators block Meta deal

Chinese regulators have forced the unraveling of Meta's acquisition of Manus, an AI agent startup, spurring the company to delete data belonging to some users. The platform, now separating from Meta, has set a deadline for affected users to back up their information before irreversible removal takes place.

Deadline and data loss scope#

Manus users impacted by the separation have until 7:59 p.m. EDT on August 22 to save their work. The company has not clearly specified which geographical regions face data deletion, though it promises to notify all affected parties via email or the Manus app. While Manus describes the data slated for removal as information "generated" since Meta's acquisition, the announcement leaves ambiguity about whether this includes task histories, uploaded documents, generated applications, connector setups, or other account elements.

Starting August 24 at 8 p.m. EDT, a restoration portal will open for users to recover their accounts. Manus says it won't charge users during this window and will offer bonuses once data restoration completes.

How regulatory pressure unwound the deal#

Manus, founded in China before establishing operations in Singapore, develops agents capable of conducting research, manipulating files, controlling software and executing multistep workflows. Meta announced the roughly $2 billion acquisition in December 2025, but regulatory scrutiny quickly emerged on both sides of the Pacific. Chinese authorities launched investigations into whether the transaction violated foreign investment regulations or transferred technology developed domestically to an American corporation.

In April, China's National Development and Reform Commission ordered the deal's cancellation. This triggered a separation process that continued months after the initial announcement, with Manus stating, "This is part of our separation from Meta; we must take this step to comply with regulatory requirements in specific parts of the world."

Emerging risks for agent platform users#

The situation highlights a vulnerability that organizations adopting AI agents may overlook. While vendors often assure customers that products will persist following acquisitions, they cannot control regulatory intervention. As the infrastructure supporting AI services grows more intricate, switching platforms becomes increasingly difficult once teams have invested in building workflows and accumulated data within a system.