China blocks Meta's acquisition of AI startup Manus • Hacker News Board

Re: China blocks Meta's acquisition of AI startup Manus

#241

Post by ekropotin » Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 4:33 AM UTC

andsoitis wrote: post #225

maxglute wrote: post #63

This just PRC finally applying their version of US export controls, i.e. PRC gets to control PRC originated algos, same argument as TikTok. The founders aren't held "hostage", they're under investigation for violating export control and national security laws. PRC hinted signalled pretty clearly they would use art12 (catch all clause) of export control laws and offshore affiliate rules (to address Singapore loophole)…

[flagged]

Not that I fan of CCP, nor I know details of this situation, but isn’t barring people under investigation from leaving the country a pretty normal legal practice?

Re: China blocks Meta's acquisition of AI startup Manus

#242

Post by itsjoaki » Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 4:53 AM UTC

we all heard about manus, but who is actually using it?

Re: China blocks Meta's acquisition of AI startup Manus

#243

Post by rvnx » Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 4:57 AM UTC

jwitthuhn wrote: post #172

maxglute wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Directly comparable, trying to circumvent export controls. One is chips other is algo.

Could you cite the specific law that makes it illegal for someone to export their thoughts?

Each sectors have their own laws for that (nuclear, defense, dual-use techs, etc).

Take any knowledge you’d like with you in your head.

Now think what is going to happen if you export these thoughts from your mouth to your North Korean best friend.

Now the same with Israeli best friend.

Same laws, just one extra entry on the list arbitrarily made by politicians, not independent courts.

Re: China blocks Meta's acquisition of AI startup Manus

#244

Post by maxglute » Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 5:07 AM UTC

jwitthuhn wrote: post #172

maxglute wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Directly comparable, trying to circumvent export controls. One is chips other is algo.

Could you cite the specific law that makes it illegal for someone to export their thoughts?

It's not their thought, it's core technology created under PRC registered entities before Singapore switcheroo, which makes their IP PRC origin and under purview of PRC according to PRC law. For actual law, article 13 of PRC 2020 export control. Basically catchall provision / blanket ban hammer (for cases of new tech like AI agent), i.e. presumption of denial / ban.

Re: China blocks Meta's acquisition of AI startup Manus

#245

Post by drbscl » Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 5:12 AM UTC

andsoitis wrote: post #225

maxglute wrote: post #63

This just PRC finally applying their version of US export controls, i.e. PRC gets to control PRC originated algos, same argument as TikTok. The founders aren't held "hostage", they're under investigation for violating export control and national security laws. PRC hinted signalled pretty clearly they would use art12 (catch all clause) of export control laws and offshore affiliate rules (to address Singapore loophole)…

[flagged]

Marking someone as a flight risk for committing a crime is common practice in all countries.

I guarantee the same would've happened in the US if this was the reverse situation.

Re: China blocks Meta's acquisition of AI startup Manus

#246

Post by culi » Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 5:27 AM UTC

ekropotin wrote: post #241

andsoitis wrote: post #225

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

Not that I fan of CCP, nor I know details of this situation, but isn’t barring people under investigation from leaving the country a pretty normal legal practice?

Down with all nation-states!

Not the rallying call I expected but I'm here for it

Re: China blocks Meta's acquisition of AI startup Manus

#247

Post by whytai » Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 5:29 AM UTC

the manus founders moved the entire company, researchers, and IP out of china to singapore. most of the researchers and business is still there, but unfortunately the founders wives/parents and family stayed in china. ultimately this is why they had to come back when the PRC summoned them after the meta acquisition.

sad day to be a chinese founder.

Re: China blocks Meta's acquisition of AI startup Manus

#248

Post by komali2 » Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 5:29 AM UTC

mothballed wrote: post #197

Fricken wrote: post #193

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>A government is just a corporation with a bit more power than the others, not some sacred entity that sits above us. Well yes, a government doesn't need to be sacred to sit above you, it need only have more power. It's legitimacy is conditional on maintaining a monopoly on violence.

Luckily china has a litany of 3rd world countries land borders surrounding it with porous borders, and in a great deal of them no one who gives too many shits about some poor chinese villager crossing. Americans on the other hand have Canada which for LEO purposes is basically an extension of the US, and Mexico which due to the drug trade and other unique factors mean anyone getting caught jumping the border in eithe…

Surveillance in the PRC is massive and centralized. There's a reason NK fleeing into the PRC plummeted when the PRC decided to stop turning a blind eye.

Re: China blocks Meta's acquisition of AI startup Manus

#249

Post by culi » Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 5:33 AM UTC

giwook wrote: post #180

xtracto wrote: post #155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Gemini, Give me examples of people that the US has retained passports pending investigations It's standard procedure in every country for some investigations.

And what exactly are these founders being investigated for?

Breaking the export rules. Tech workers should be used to the idea of a "Invention Assignment Agreement".

Manus was built in China and all of its development happened there. In order to skirt Chinese review of the deal they tried to close down shop there and move to Singapore.

I don't think China is being unreasonable. I'm sure the US would act exactly the same way if an American tech company raised money from China and then tried to close down in the US and move all of its IP and technology to a different country so that it can be bought out by Alibaba or Bytedance without having to deal with US approval

Re: China blocks Meta's acquisition of AI startup Manus

#250

Post by culi » Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 5:40 AM UTC

rtpg wrote: post #201

nerdsniper wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The founders are Chinese citizens, and pressure was applied to the founders personally. Thus Singapore was given room to save face re: sovereignty.

> After a $75 million fundraising round led by U.S. venture firm Benchmark in May 2025, Manus shut its China offices in July, laying off dozens of employees. It then moved its operations to Singapore. The company itself was based in mainland China less than 12 months ago.

Yeah if an American tech firm had been working in the US for 5 years and then tried to close all US offices down and move its IPs and tech to a different country so that it can sell out to Alibaba or Bytedance, I'm sure the US would react in the same exact way.

The sinophobia in this thread is ridiculous. Whether you agree or disagree with what China is doing, nothing is happening that wouldn't also happen in the US.