Menlo Park: Instagram’s AI image generator has raised privacy concerns as Meta allows public profile images to be used in generated content by default.
The feature forms part of Meta’s Muse Image tool, which has enabled users to create AI-generated visuals by referencing public Instagram accounts. The system allows tagging of profiles and uses images from posts to generate new visuals.
Users are not alerted when content becomes part of the training or generation process. Privacy advocates have warned that the default settings could expose user images without clear awareness.
Meta has advised users who want to restrict access to adjust the ‘sharing and reuse’ settings. Switching accounts from public to private remains the most direct method to prevent image use within the AI system. The company has placed some safeguards on the feature.
Accounts belonging to users under 18 cannot be tagged. Teen users also cannot reference other profiles in prompts. However, Meta has not clarified whether images of children appearing in public posts from adult accounts could be used.
Muse Image has been promoted with examples focused on lifestyle and creative use. These include fashion visuals, landscape enhancements and style changes. The system can also combine a person, a product and a visual style in one output.
Meta remarked that safeguards are in place to prevent policy violations. Users can report problematic images through a built-in feedback option within the tool. The company added that the feature is designed to limit harmful outputs while keeping user controls accessible.
The feature has launched across the Meta AI app and Instagram Stories in the United States, with limited availability on WhatsApp. Meta plans to expand it to Facebook and add similar AI-driven video tools. The rollout has drawn scrutiny over transparency, consent and user control.
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