Meta has introduced a new AI image generation model that allows users to create images based on public Instagram profiles, raising fresh privacy concerns over the use of people’s likenesses.
Launched on July 7, the new Muse Image model lets users generate AI images by simply entering a public Instagram handle into a prompt. According to Meta’s policy, account holders are not notified when their public profile is used in this way.
Meta said the feature is designed to make AI image generation more personal by allowing prompts based on public Instagram accounts. However, privacy advocates have raised concerns that the tool could be used to create images of individuals without their knowledge or consent.
Users can opt out by adjusting Instagram’s Sharing and Reuse settings to disable the use of their posts and reels for Meta’s AI features, although the option is still being rolled out and may not yet be available to all users. The setting only prevents future AI-generated images and does not remove any images created before the feature was disabled. Switching an account to private offers the strongest protection against the tool’s use.