Meta’s latest feature for Instagram, Muse Image, is stirring privacy concerns as it allows users to create AI-generated images using photos from public Instagram accounts by default. The feature utilizes public profiles in prompts to customize AI images, which has privacy advocates worried that users might not realize their publicly shared photos are being used in this manner since the feature is automatically enabled.
Addressing these concerns, Meta has implemented certain safety measures, ensuring that private accounts and users under the age of 18 are excluded from this feature. Additionally, adults with public profiles have the option to opt out by adjusting their privacy settings in the “Sharing and Reuse” section. Despite these measures, privacy experts argue that the opt-out process is not straightforward and assert that users should have been given the choice to opt in rather than having their content available by default.
Further apprehensions have been raised regarding the potential for AI-generated content to include images of children. Even though there are protections in place for underage accounts, photos posted by adults could still feature children, inadvertently allowing their images to be referenced in AI outputs.
Meta has emphasized that Muse Image is equipped with safeguards to prevent misuse, and users have the ability to report any inappropriate AI-generated content. Currently, this feature is accessible through the Meta AI app, Instagram Stories in the U.S., and WhatsApp in certain countries, with intentions for broader distribution in the future.