Meta has introduced a new AI-driven image generation feature for Instagram, known as Muse Image, which has raised privacy concerns due to its default setting that allows users to create AI-generated images using photos from public Instagram accounts. This feature lets users incorporate images from public profiles into prompts for custom AI images. Privacy advocates are worried that many users might be unaware their publicly shared photos are automatically available for such use.
The company has implemented safety measures, ensuring that private accounts and users under the age of 18 are excluded from the feature. Public account holders can opt out of this setting by adjusting their privacy settings in the “Sharing and Reuse” section. However, privacy experts argue that the opt-out process is not straightforward, and they believe that users should have had the option to opt in rather than being included by default.
A further concern is that photos posted by adults might feature children, inadvertently making their images available for AI-generated content despite the protections in place for accounts belonging to minors. Privacy advocates emphasize the potential for misuse in such scenarios.
Meta has assured that Muse Image comes with safeguards to prevent misuse and 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 select countries, with plans for broader rollout in the future.
