{"slug": "meta-pulls-plug-on-controversial-ai-access-to-photos-on-public-instagram-pages", "title": "Meta pulls plug on controversial AI access to photos on public Instagram pages after backlash", "summary": "Meta has discontinued its Muse Image AI feature after backlash over using public Instagram photos for AI-generated visuals, citing privacy concerns. The tool, launched less than a week ago, automatically referenced public Instagram accounts to create images, prompting criticism from users and SAG-AFTRA. Meta acknowledged the feature 'missed the mark' and removed it.", "body_md": "# Meta pulls plug on controversial AI access to photos on public Instagram pages after backlash\n\n‘We’ve heard the feedback that this feature missed the mark, so it’s no longer available’\n\n- Bookmark\n- CommentsGo to comments\n\n[Meta](/topic/meta) has swiftly withdrawn a controversial [AI](/topic/ai) image generation feature, Muse Image, just days after its launch, following widespread criticism over its use of public Instagram accounts as fodder for AI-generated visuals.\n\nThe move on Friday came less than a week after the parent company of Instagram and Facebook rolled out the tool, its first image-generation model available through the company’s artificial intelligence assistant, Meta AI.\n\nUnlike other AI apps that create images based on user suggestions, Muse Image automatically made [photos](/topic/photos) posted on all public Instagram accounts usable by the AI tool as a reference when creating new images.\n\nThis sparked immediate privacy concerns.\n\n\"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,\" Meta said in a statement. \"We’ve heard the feedback that this feature missed the mark, so it’s no longer available.\"\n\nThe feature's rollout led to a flurry of social media posts flagging privacy concerns and instructing Instagram users how to opt out.\n\nHollywood also quickly raised concerns, with the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) urging its members to change Instagram settings to protect their likeness.\n\nIn a statement on X, SAG-AFTRA applauded Meta’s decision to shut off the feature.\n\n\"With the dangers of nonconsensual digital replicas well known to all, a feature that encouraged that behavior is unwise,\" the union said. \"We appreciate its discontinuance. It is the right thing to do.\"\n\n## Join our commenting forum\n\nJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies\n\n[Comments](#comments-area)", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/meta-pulls-plug-on-controversial-ai-access-to-photos-on-public-instagram-pages", "canonical_source": "https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/meta-instagram-ai-public-profiles-b3013222.html", "published_at": "2026-07-11 17:38:55+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-07-11 18:18:34.152075+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["generative-ai", "ai-ethics", "ai-products"], "entities": ["Meta", "Instagram", "Muse Image", "Meta AI", "SAG-AFTRA"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/meta-pulls-plug-on-controversial-ai-access-to-photos-on-public-instagram-pages", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/meta-pulls-plug-on-controversial-ai-access-to-photos-on-public-instagram-pages.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/meta-pulls-plug-on-controversial-ai-access-to-photos-on-public-instagram-pages.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/meta-pulls-plug-on-controversial-ai-access-to-photos-on-public-instagram-pages.jsonld"}}