Meta Platforms Inc.China tightens border controls and cancels Manus acquisition, targeting AI data leaks, affecting Meta's deal.

The Chinese government is stepping up controls on inbound and outbound travel to prevent the leakage of data and advanced technology, especially artificial intelligence. The new rules will take effect on September 15. The State Council has announced that officials will have the authority to bar Chinese citizens from leaving the country if they are found to have violated technology or export control measures, or if their travel would harm the nation's industrial or technological security. At the same time, foreigners may be denied entry into China if they come from countries against which China has imposed countermeasures in response to sanctions, or if they are linked to companies on the Chinese government's list of unreliable entities. Immigration officers will also have the power to inspect documents and electronic data during checks. The tightening is seen partly as a response to Meta Platforms' announcement that it would acquire Manus, a Chinese AI startup specializing in agentic AI, for about 20 billion dollars. The Financial Times reported that in March, the Chinese government barred Manus' founders and executives from leaving the country, and in April it ordered the acquisition to be cancelled. Experts believe Manus may have used Singapore as a front to evade Chinese government controls, and that this case likely prompted Beijing to impose even stricter controls on AI technology and data.
Meta Platforms Inc.China tightens border controls and cancels Manus acquisition, targeting AI data leaks, affecting Meta's deal.
Manus founders barred from leaving China and acquisition ordered cancelled, impacting Butterfly Effect.