Meta's Manus AI Under Fire for Misleading Bots and Chinese Regulatory Issues

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The acquisition of Manus AI by Meta Platforms in December 2025 has brought the company under intense scrutiny due to allegations that it could be used to run automated social media accounts.

Background on Manus AI

Manus AI is a general-purpose AI agent that was founded in China before relocating to Singapore. The company launched its first AI agent last year, describing the product as capable of carrying out complex tasks such as market research, coding, and data analysis.

Manus AI was founded in China but relocated to Singapore.
The company claims to have already served millions of users and businesses worldwide.
Manus AI processes over 147 trillion tokens and creates more than 80 million virtual computers.

Allegations of Foreign Bot Activity

US Representative Anna Paulina Luna recently wrote on her public forum that foreign intelligence operations were using bot farms to flood social media timelines and manipulate the narrative.

"According to US Representative Anna Paulina Luna, foreign intelligence operations are using bot farms to flood social media timelines and manipulate the narrative."

Features and Capabilities of Manus AI

Manus AI has built-in features that enable it to interact with web browsers, move cursors, click buttons, and type into fields.

Manus AI can remain logged into multiple social media platforms.
It can bypass basic navigation hurdles that would typically prevent simpler bots from functioning.
Manus AI can use local browsers to route its activity through a user’s own IP address, making it difficult to detect.

Cross-Border Regulation and Scrutiny

The scrutiny surrounding Manus AI has not been limited to the United States. In China, regulators began reviewing the transaction in March to determine whether the acquisition violated investment rules.

In China, regulators reviewed the transaction in March to determine if it violated investment rules.
The two co-founders, Xiao Hong and Ji Yichao, were restricted from leaving the country and summoned to a meeting with the National Development and Reform Commission.

Conclusion

The acquisition of Manus AI by Meta Platforms has raised significant concerns over the potential misuse of this technology. As AI continues to evolve and become increasingly integrated into our daily lives, it is essential to address these issues and ensure that such technologies are developed and used responsibly.