Meta Withdraws AI Image Feature After Privacy Backlash Over Instagram Content
Meta has withdrawn its AI image generation feature that used public Instagram content after widespread criticism over privacy, consent and automatic opt-in settings.
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Meta has pulled a new artificial intelligence feature that let users generate images from content on public Instagram accounts, after criticism about privacy, consent and the automatic use of users’ public posts.
The feature, which debuted as part of Meta’s new Muse Image model, enabled users to bring in public Instagram accounts when making AI-generated images through the Meta AI chatbot. It also allowed for editing of AI-generated visuals using sketches and photos.
Meta said the feature was intended as a creative tool and that users had control over whether their public content could be referenced in response to backlash.
"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," the company said. "We've heard the feedback that this feature missed the mark, so it's no longer available."
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Privacy Backlash:
The criticism stemmed from the fact that public Instagram accounts were automatically enrolled into the feature, and users had to turn off the setting manually if they didn’t want their images used in AI-generated creations.
Hannah Einbinder, star of Hacks, slammed the default opt-in approach on Instagram, urging users to turn off the feature. SAG-AFTRA, the union that represents actors and media professionals, also advised members and other Instagram users to opt out, arguing that any system that uses people’s images should require explicit consent rather than automatic participation.
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The SAG-AFTRA union applauded Meta’s decision to take down the feature. The union said the promotion of the creation of non-consensual digital replicas was inappropriate and called Meta’s move the responsible one.
Despite the rollback, Meta said it continues to develop AI-powered creative tools. Muse Image is the first image-generation model from Meta Superintelligence Labs, and the company has said the technology is expected to expand across WhatsApp, Facebook and Messenger. It is also working on AI-powered video generation capabilities.
