Meta has introduced a new AI-powered feature for Instagram, known as Muse Image, which has generated privacy concerns by allowing users to create AI-generated images using photos from public Instagram accounts by default. This tool enables users to include public Instagram profiles in their prompts to produce customized AI images. Privacy advocates are worried that many users might not realize their publicly shared photos can be utilized in this manner since the feature is enabled by default.
The company has stated that Muse Image comes with safety measures. For instance, private accounts and those of users under the age of 18 are automatically excluded from the feature. Additionally, adult users who have public accounts can opt out by adjusting their privacy settings found in the “Sharing and Reuse” section. However, privacy experts argue that the opt-out option is not easily accessible and contend that users should have been required to opt in before their content was made available for AI image generation.
Concerns have also been raised by advocates regarding photos posted by adults that might include children, potentially allowing those children’s images to be referenced in AI-generated content, despite the existing protections for underage accounts. This aspect has heightened worries about the potential misuse of personal images and the unintended consequences of the new feature.
Meta has assured that Muse Image is equipped with safeguards designed to prevent misuse and that it allows users to report any inappropriate AI-generated images. Currently, the feature is accessible through the Meta AI app, Instagram Stories in the United States, and WhatsApp in selected countries, with plans underway for broader expansion.