Meta has introduced a new feature on Instagram, Muse Image, which leverages artificial intelligence to generate images, but it has raised privacy concerns. This tool allows users to create AI-generated images using photos from public Instagram profiles by default, a move that has led privacy advocates to worry about users’ awareness and consent regarding the use of their publicly shared images.
The company has implemented safety measures to address these concerns. Notably, private accounts and users below the age of 18 are excluded automatically from this feature. Additionally, adult users with public profiles have the capability to opt out by adjusting their settings in the “Sharing and Reuse” section. Despite these measures, privacy experts criticize the opt-out process as not being user-friendly and argue that consent should have been sought via an opt-in approach before making content available for AI image generation.
Concerns have also been raised about the potential inclusion of children in photos shared by adults, which could inadvertently allow these images to be used in AI-generated content. This issue persists despite the safeguards intended to protect underage accounts.
Meta asserts that Muse Image is designed with precautions to prevent misuse and includes a feature for users to report inappropriate AI-generated images. Currently, this feature is accessible through the Meta AI app, Instagram Stories in the United States, and WhatsApp in selected countries, with Meta planning to expand its availability further.