Meta pulls Instagram reference feature from Muse Image

Meta has disabled a feature in Muse Image that automatically allowed photos from public Instagram accounts to be used as references for AI-generated images. The company said its goal was to offer a creative tool while giving people control over whether their public content could be referenced, but acknowledged that feedback showed the feature “missed the mark.”

Muse Image, Meta’s first image-generation model available through Meta AI, creates images from user prompts. Its automatic access to public Instagram photos prompted social media posts raising privacy concerns and explaining how users could opt out. SAG-AFTRA also urged members to change their Instagram settings to protect their likeness.

The union welcomed Meta’s decision in a statement on X, warning that a feature encouraging behavior tied to nonconsensual digital replicas was unwise. Meta said the feature is no longer available.