The company has withdrawn a feature that allowed AI image generation using photos from public Instagram accounts following widespread criticism over privacy and user consent.
Highlights
- Meta removes controversial Muse AI image-generation feature.
- Users raised concerns over privacy, consent and image scraping.
- Indian government to review complaints related to the feature.
New Delhi:
Meta has removed a controversial feature from its newly launched Muse AI image generator after facing widespread criticism over user privacy and data protection. The feature allowed users to generate AI images based on photos from public Instagram accounts, prompting concerns about consent and the use of publicly available content for AI training and image creation.
Muse AI was introduced as Meta’s latest AI-powered image generation tool, designed to help users create personalized AI-generated visuals. Under the now-removed feature, users could tag a public Instagram account and generate images inspired by photos available on that profile.
The feature quickly sparked criticism from users, digital rights advocates and privacy experts. Critics argued that publicly available images should not be used for AI-generated content without explicit user consent. Concerns were also raised over image scraping, data privacy and the broader implications of using social media content in generative AI systems.
Responding to the backlash, Meta said it had carefully reviewed user feedback and acknowledged that the feature did not meet people’s expectations. The company confirmed that it has removed the feature and reiterated that its intention was to offer a creative AI tool rather than compromise user privacy.
The controversy has also drawn the attention of the Government of India, which is reviewing complaints and examining whether the feature complies with existing legal and data protection frameworks. Authorities may assess the matter under applicable regulations if required.
Muse AI has been positioned by Meta as one of its most advanced AI image-generation models, developed by the company’s Superintelligence Labs. However, shortly after its launch, the platform faced criticism over issues related to user consent, data security and responsible AI practices.
With the removal of the disputed feature, Meta is expected to focus on improving Muse AI while addressing privacy concerns and strengthening user trust in its AI products.
