Meta has released its new Muse Image model, a significant step in the company's push for hyperrealistic images, posters, and even videos. This development, however, raises concerns about user privacy, particularly when it comes to public Instagram profiles.
By default, anyone using Meta AI can create an image using the likeness of a public Instagram account, which can then be shared via chat, Stories, or the Instagram feed. This feature does not require the user to be a celebrity or a famous person; in fact, some celebrity profiles are restricted from this feature. As long as an Instagram profile is public, it is fair game for this new feature, with no approval process required.
This is a significant privacy issue, as every public profile is automatically opted into this new feature without their consent. If you are using Meta AI features on Instagram, you are also part of this. Meta's stance is clear: if you are posting anything publicly, they can use it on their AI platform. Creating an image out of two different faces is not new, but Meta is making it trivially easy on a large scale.
To test this feature, one user attempted to create an image of themselves in a fight scene with Robert Downey Jr. The AI refused, likely due to image rights issues. However, when asked to create an image with a public profile, the result was instantaneous, using recent images uploaded by the individual on their profile.
Fortunately, there is a way to stop people from using your Instagram profile in their AI images. If you have a public profile, you can disable a setting that allows Meta to use your profile data for Meta AI and Reels generation. To do this, open the Instagram app, go to your Profile, and tap the three-lined Menu button in the top-right corner. Navigate to Sharing and Reuse and disable the Posts and Reels feature.
This setting change works, as one user was able to test and confirm. When they created a new image using their public profile, the AI refused to generate the image, citing a lack of rights to do so. This should be the default setting, prioritizing user privacy and control over their online presence.
