The company recently rolled out Muse Image, an AI image generator that can create original images, edit photos and even generate ads. But one feature, in particular, has sparked concerns: anyone can use photos from public Instagram accounts to generate AI images by simply tagging that account.
While Meta excludes private accounts and users under 18 by default, public accounts remain eligible. That means your public posts and reels could be used in AI-generated creations by other users, without you being notified.
Also Read: What is Meta’s Muse Image? How to use Meta’s new AI image generator, what it can do, where it’s available and is it free?
The feature has raised questions around consent, privacy and the potential for misuse, including impersonation and non-consensual image manipulation.
If you’d rather keep your Instagram content out of Meta’s AI features, here’s how you can turn the setting off.
How to stop Meta AI from using your Instagram photos
- Open Instagram and head to your profile.
- Tap the three-line menu in the top-right corner.
- Scroll down to Sharing and reuse.
- Look for “Allow people to use your content on Instagram with AI features on Meta.”
- Turn the toggle off for both Posts and Reels.
The rollout comes even as the government is looking into concerns around the use of public Instagram data.
Speaking on the sidelines of the CII GCC Business Summit, MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan said the ministry would examine whether the scraping of data from public Instagram accounts complies with India’s legal framework after it receives responses to notices issued in the matter.
Also Read: Govt to examine Meta’s Muse AI tool that lets users generate images from Instagram profiles: IT Secretary
“There is a lot of social media push, backlash against that, a lot of concerns within people. We will have to look at it with reference to the legal framework and whether it is in accordance with the legal framework or not,” Krishnan said.
He added that the ministry will decide its next course of action after reviewing the responses, which are now due.
Meta’s AI rollout comes at a time when social media platforms are rapidly adding generative AI tools. But as those features become more powerful, they are also raising bigger questions around how user content is collected, reused and whether people have enough control over where their photos end up.
