Meta has disabled a newly introduced feature that allowed its artificial intelligence image-generation tool to reference photos from public Instagram accounts, reversing the change after criticism over privacy and user consent.
The company announced the decision Friday, less than a week after launching Muse Image, its first image-generation model integrated into the Meta AI assistant.
The feature allowed the AI system to use publicly available Instagram photos as visual references when generating images. Critics argued that users’ content could be incorporated into AI-generated creations without explicit consent.
“Our intent was to provide a useful creative tool and to give people control over whether their public content could be referenced in this way,” Meta said in a statement.
“We’ve heard the feedback that this feature missed the mark, so it’s no longer available.”
Privacy Concerns Surface After Launch
Muse Image works much like other AI image generators by creating images from text prompts.
Unlike many competing tools, however, the initial version also treated photos from public Instagram accounts as potential visual references.
The feature quickly drew criticism on social media. Users questioned how their public images could be used and shared instructions explaining how Instagram account holders could opt out.
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The debate added to broader concerns over how technology companies use publicly available online content to develop and operate generative AI systems.
Entertainment Industry Responds
The feature also prompted a response from the entertainment industry.
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) advised members to review their Instagram privacy settings to help protect their likenesses.
After Meta withdrew the feature, the union welcomed the decision.
“With the dangers of nonconsensual digital replicas well known to all, a feature that encouraged that behavior is unwise,” SAG-AFTRA said in a statement posted on X.
The union added that Meta had done “the right thing” by discontinuing the feature.
Debate Over AI Development Continues
Meta has invested heavily in artificial intelligence across Facebook, Instagram and its Meta AI assistant as competition among major technology companies intensifies.
At the same time, AI developers continue to face growing scrutiny over privacy, copyright and the use of personal content in generative AI systems.
Meta’s decision to withdraw the feature comes as technology companies face increasing pressure to provide greater transparency, user control and clearer consent mechanisms when introducing new AI capabilities.
This report is based on reporting by The Associated Press.
Article Topics: Meta | Artificial Intelligence | Instagram | Privacy | Muse Image | Social Media | Generative AI
