Meta recently introduced Muse Image, a generative AI model that automatically uses photos from adult public Instagram accounts to create AI-generated images, unless users disable this feature. This default setting allows anyone to mention an Instagram username in an AI prompt, triggering the remix of that account’s public photos without notifying the user.
Though Meta guards against using photos from underage users or private accounts, all adult users with public profiles are included in this opt-out system. The AI-generated content remains accessible even if the original user later changes their privacy settings, offering no retroactive deletion. This approach reverses the usual consent model, placing the burden on users to actively protect their content rather than seeking explicit permission before use.
Privacy advocates highlight the lack of user notification and control as particularly troubling. Users have no way to confirm when their images are repurposed, cannot prevent generation beforehand, and are powerless to demand removal if the AI output misrepresents them. Given these risks, users concerned about their image rights should take immediate steps to opt out within the Instagram app.
To disable Muse Image’s access to your content, open Instagram and tap your profile icon, then access the menu by clicking the three horizontal lines (often labeled “Settings and activity”). Scroll to the “Sharing and reuse” section, where you’ll find toggles labeled “Allow people to use your content on Instagram and with AI features on Meta.” Depending on your app version, you may see separate options for posts, Reels, and original audio—switch all toggles off. Doing so prevents your Instagram content from being used in AI-generated images or audio mixes triggered by user mentions.
Meta’s new tool thus exemplifies emerging tensions between AI innovation and user privacy, underscoring the need for clearer consent frameworks as generative AI expands within social media platforms.