Instagram users have long been enhancing their photos with various filters and techniques to improve their visual appeal. Therefore, it was not unexpected when Meta, the parent company of Instagram, introduced new generative AI effects to elevate content creation.
However, following backlash, Meta has decided to retract a significant feature of the newly launched tool. Shortly after its release, the company disabled a function that allowed AI users to tag an Instagram account, enabling the system to generate images incorporating photos from that specific account.
Users on Instagram would need to manually opt out to prevent others from generating photos using their content, assuming they were even aware of this feature. In response to the criticism, a Meta spokesperson conveyed in an email to CBC News on Friday evening that they had acknowledged the feedback and consequently removed the feature.
Initially introduced on Tuesday, Muse Image by Meta offers over 30 new effects for Instagram stories and WhatsApp, with plans for availability on Facebook and Messenger in the future. According to a post on Instagram’s blog, these effects can instantly enhance photos with a single tap, showcasing it as the first AI image generation model from Meta Superintelligence Lab. Additionally, Muse Video is currently under development.
Although Muse Image is currently only accessible for use on Instagram Stories and WhatsApp in the U.S., Canadians can explore some new features directly on the Meta AI website. Notably, the automatic activation of Meta AI permissions for users with public accounts in other countries, including Canada, was a point of concern that required manual deactivation.
At the time of the last update, Meta had not commented on the potential return of the controversial Instagram tagging feature. Following its initial announcement, users and privacy experts swiftly raised concerns and shared guidelines on opting out of the feature.
To deactivate the Meta AI permissions for utilizing your photos to generate images, users are advised to do so manually on mobile devices. By navigating to the “Settings and activity” section and scrolling down to “Sharing and reuse,” users can locate the Meta AI permissions toggle.
To avoid having your publicly posted photos used by Instagram’s Muse AI generative feature, these permissions must be turned off manually in the app settings under the ‘Sharing and reuse’ section.
For Instagram accounts, the default setting for users under 18 is private, requiring parental consent for those under 16 to switch to a public account.
Muse Image is described by Meta as an “intelligent creative partner” that enables users to apply preset AI-generated effects based on prompts, such as enhancing old photos or styling individuals with different outfits. Users can also create their own effects using prompts by simply mentioning an account with the @ symbol and the username.
Although Muse Image is not yet accessible to Instagram users in Canada, Meta has provided the option to experiment with the tool on the Meta AI website by uploading photos or mentioning public Instagram accounts.
Katrina German expresses concerns about tools like Muse Image, emphasizing the potential misuse of strangers’ images without consent. She highlights the necessity for users to proactively opt out of these features, as it alters the privacy dynamics of content creation online.
Several AI image and video-generation tools are available, ranging from popular creative applications like Adobe Photoshop to companies like Google Gemini and Anthropic. Notably, Meta-owned X and its integrated AI chatbot Grok have faced criticism for permitting users to manipulate images, potentially infringing on individuals’ privacy.
Overall, the introduction of Muse Image by Meta has sparked discussions around privacy and consent in content creation, urging users to remain vigilant about the usage of their images in the digital landscape.
