Meta has disabled a feature of its newly launched AI image-generation tool, Muse Image, following widespread criticism that it automatically accessed public Instagram photos for use as references in creating AI-generated images. The move came on Friday, less than a week after the rollout of Muse Image, Meta's first image-generation model available through its AI assistant, Meta AI.
Feature Pulled After Privacy Outcry
Meta stated in a release: "Our intent was to provide a useful creative tool and to give people control over whether their public content could be referenced in this way. We’ve heard the feedback that this feature missed the mark, so it’s no longer available." The feature automatically made photos posted on all public Instagram accounts accessible to the AI tool as a reference when generating new images, triggering a wave of social media posts flagging privacy concerns. Many users shared instructions on how to opt out of having their accounts accessed by Muse Image.
Hollywood and Union Raise Alarms
The entertainment industry was quick to react. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) urged its members to adjust their Instagram settings to protect their likeness. In a statement on X, SAG-AFTRA applauded Meta’s decision, saying: "With the dangers of nonconsensual digital replicas well known to all, a feature that encouraged that behavior is unwise. We appreciate its discontinuance. It is the right thing to do."
Muse Image Background
Muse Image, like other AI apps with image-generating capabilities, creates images based on user prompts. However, its controversial feature automatically referenced publicly shared Instagram photos without explicit consent, raising significant privacy and ethical questions. Meta’s swift reversal underscores the growing scrutiny over AI tools that leverage user-generated content, particularly from social media platforms.
