Meta Platforms(US:META) Sou Hu Cai Jing·2026-01-17 13:44Group 1 - The acquisition of Manus by Meta, valued at $2 billion, has been put on hold due to an investigation by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce regarding technology exports [1][3][30] - Manus, originally founded in Wuhan, moved its headquarters to Singapore to facilitate the sale of its core assets to a U.S. company, a move that has raised regulatory concerns [1][5][8] - The term "Singapore laundering" is used in the industry to describe the practice of changing a company's registration to appear more international, which is seen as a strategy to evade regulatory scrutiny [8][10] Group 2 - The data used to train AI models by Manus is primarily sourced from Chinese local scenarios and user information, which requires regulatory approval for export [12][10] - The transfer of key technical personnel to Singapore is viewed as a physical relocation of core technology, raising alarms about potential violations of regulations [12][14] - The halted acquisition reflects a broader trend where technology is no longer just a commercial asset but also a matter of national security, complicating cross-border transactions [24][30] Group 3 - Meta's acquisition was initially seen as a strategic move to acquire a top AI team and technology, but the regulatory investigation has introduced significant risks, potentially affecting payment terms and negotiations [18][20] - The situation serves as a cautionary tale for tech companies attempting to shortcut regulations, emphasizing the importance of compliance in global operations [26][30] - The incident highlights the shift in industry dynamics where compliance capabilities are becoming a core asset for companies looking to expand internationally [26][30]