Meta has discontinued its newly launched AI image generation feature just days after its debut, following criticism over privacy concerns and the way it used public Instagram content.
The feature, called Muse Image, was introduced earlier this week as part of Meta Superintelligence Labs and integrated into the company’s Meta AI chatbot. It allowed users to generate and edit AI-created images using publicly available Instagram photos as inputs.
However, the tool quickly attracted backlash from users and digital rights advocates, who criticised it for being enabled by default rather than requiring users to opt in before their public content could be used.
In a statement on Friday, Meta acknowledged the criticism and confirmed it had withdrawn the feature;
“Our intent was to provide a useful creative tool and to give people control over whether their public content could be referenced in this way. We’ve heard the feedback that this feature missed the mark, so it’s no longer available” – Meta
The controversy gained traction after Emmy-winning actor Hannah Einbinder criticised the feature on Instagram, warning users that it had been activated automatically and encouraging them to disable it.
The Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) also condemned the feature, stating that AI systems should only use people’s images with clear and explicit consent.
The union welcomed Meta’s decision to withdraw the tool, describing the move as the responsible course of action given growing concerns over non-consensual AI-generated digital replicas.
