Meta launches Muse Image AI tool amid privacy concerns and opt-out option
Meta introduced Muse Image, an AI generator that can use photos from public Instagram accounts, prompting criticism over consent and prompting the company to add a setting for users to block reuse of their content.
Meta rolled out a new feature called Muse Image that lets users create original pictures, edit existing photos and produce custom ads within its apps. The tool can pull images from any public Instagram profile; by tagging a public account, a user can incorporate that account’s photos into AI-generated creations. Private accounts and those belonging to users under 18 are automatically excluded.
Critics say the capability raises consent issues because owners of public photos are not notified when their images are reused, and the technology could be exploited for harassment, impersonation or non-consensual editing. To address these concerns, Meta added an opt-out setting. Users can disable the feature by opening their profile, selecting the menu, choosing “Sharing and reuse,” and turning off the option that allows others to create with and reuse their posts and reels.
The launch comes as social platforms increasingly embed generative AI tools, prompting calls from experts for stronger privacy safeguards and clearer transparency about data use. A recent Pew Research Center poll found that 35 % of respondents feel more concerned than excited about AI’s expanding role, and Meta’s history with user privacy has added to the scrutiny of the new feature.