JAKARTA - Artificial intelligence startup Manus will resume operating as an independent company after splitting from US technology giant Meta Platforms. As part of the process, Manus will delete some user data from the end of August 2026. Manus said the data deletion was being carried out to comply with regulatory requirements in certain jurisdictions. “As part of our transition back to independent operations and to comply with regulatory requirements in certain jurisdictions, data generated by certain users on or after 29 December 2025 will be deleted by the end of this month,” Manus said in a statement, as reported by Reuters. The company said affected users would be notified through the Manus app and by email. Users will also be given the opportunity to back up their data before the deletion takes place. “This is part of our separation from Meta,” Manus said. The split came after the Chinese government ordered Meta in April 2026 to cancel its acquisition of Manus, valued at more than USD 2 billion. The decision came as China tightened scrutiny of US companies' investments in Chinese startups developing strategic technologies, including AI. Previously, Meta acquired Manus in a deal valued at more than USD 2 billion. However, Beijing later ordered Meta to cancel the transaction. Meanwhile, Tencent is reportedly negotiating to become Manus's largest shareholder. Reuters reported in July that the Chinese technology and gaming company was discussing a potential investment in Manus.