Manus Separates From Meta; Returns as an Independent Company

AI agent company Manus is preparing to return to independent operations, despite agreeing to be acquired by Meta in a $2 billion deal last year.

Originally founded in China as part of Butterfly Effect Technology, Manus relocated its headquarters to Singapore earlier in 2025 amid geopolitical tensions and global expansion efforts.

Earlier this year, Chinese media reported that the acquisition could draw scrutiny from Chinese regulators over potential breaches of technology export controls, the South China Morning Post reported.

Now, in a notice to users, Manus said data generated by certain users on or after December 29, 2025, will be deleted between August 23 and August 24, 2026, Singapore time. The company said the move is required to comply with regulatory requirements in specific jurisdictions as Manus separates from Meta.

"As we go through the process, it’s unavoidable that some users’ accounts will be impacted. Below, we explain what’s happening and what it means for you if your account is affected," Manus said.

Affected users will have until 7:59 a.m. Singapore time on August 23 to back up their data. A restoration portal will open at 8 a.m. on August 25, allowing users to restore previously backed-up information and resume using their accounts.

Manus said affected users will be notified through the app and email, although people who registered using Apple ID or Facebook will receive notifications through the app because Manus does not have their email addresses.

The company said users will not be charged during the August 11 to August 23 backup period and will receive welcome-back bonuses after restoring their data.

Manus stressed that the data deletion is not related to a security breach or incident. Instead, it stems from the company's separation from Meta and regulatory requirements governing certain users' data.

The December 29, 2025 date is significant because it was the day Meta acquired Manus. According to Manus, data generated by some users after the acquisition needs to be deleted as part of the company's return to independent operations.

Unaffected users will be able to continue using Manus normally and will not need to take any action.

The company said user data is currently stored in the US and Singapore, with further information available through its Trust Center.

The development marks another major turn in the short history of Manus. Meta's acquisition had positioned the AI agent startup within one of the world's largest technology companies, but regulatory intervention has since forced the companies to unwind the arrangement.

Despite the disruption, Manus said it plans to continue developing its AI agent platform and is preparing new features to expand the capabilities of general-purpose AI agents.