Meta’s introduction of the AI-driven Muse Image feature for Instagram has raised privacy concerns due to its capability to generate AI images using photos from public Instagram accounts by default. This new tool allows users to create tailored AI images by referring to public profiles in their prompts, sparking fears among privacy advocates. They argue that many users might not be aware that their publicly shared images are being utilized this way since the feature is automatically enabled.
While Meta assures that Muse Image includes safety precautions, such as excluding private accounts and users under 18, the company is facing criticism for not requiring explicit consent from users with public accounts. Adults with public profiles are automatically included in this feature unless they manually opt out via their privacy settings, a process privacy experts claim is not user-friendly. Critics believe that users should have been given the choice to opt in instead of being automatically included.
Further concerns have been voiced about the possibility of children’s images being inadvertently used in AI-generated content. Although the guidelines protect underage accounts, pictures posted by adults could still feature minors, potentially leading to their inclusion in these AI creations.
In response, Meta has highlighted that Muse Image is equipped with safeguards to prevent misuse and allows users to report any inappropriate AI-generated images. Currently, this feature is accessible through the Meta AI app, Instagram Stories in the U.S., and WhatsApp in select countries, with Meta planning to expand its availability further.