Meta suspends Instagram’s AI feature after criticism over the use of public photos

Menlo Park – 13 July 2026: Meta has once again removed a feature from its new Muse Image image generator after it drew strong criticism within just a few days. Through the Meta AI application, users could link public Instagram accounts in prompts. The system then accessed publicly visible photos from these profiles to create new AI-generated images. Meta introduced Muse Image on 7 July and disabled the disputed feature on 10 July.

The company stated that the application was intended to offer creative possibilities and give those affected control over the use of their public content. However, reactions showed that the feature had not met expectations. Meta therefore removed the option to directly integrate public Instagram profiles as a visual reference in image requests. The Muse Image generator remains part of Meta AI.

The focus of the criticism was the default opt-in for publicly visible accounts. Anyone operating such a profile had to actively change the relevant permission in the settings to prevent their content from being used as a model. Users particularly criticized the fact that explicit permission had not been requested in advance. There were also concerns that images and recognizable features of people could be incorporated into new depictions without their knowledge.

The debate therefore concerned not only copyright in photographs, but also the handling of portraits and personal identity in generative AI systems. Especially in the case of portrait photos, a technical reference can lead other users to create unwanted or misleading content involving the people depicted. Professional associations in the US entertainment industry welcomed Meta’s reversal and drew attention to the risks of non-consensual digital reproductions.

Muse Image is Meta’s first image generation model developed internally within Meta Superintelligence Labs. According to the company, the model can create images from text prompts, edit existing images, and produce visual content for posts, stories, and chats. Meta plans to integrate it into other applications within the group. However, the now-removed connection with Instagram was a separate element of the launch and not the entire technical foundation of Muse Image.

For Instagram users, the decision means that public profiles can no longer be used in Meta AI as an image model simply by mentioning the account name. The rapid change of course also underscores the pressure on platform operators to provide clear consent rules and understandable settings for AI features. It remains open how Meta will handle the use of public content in future AI offerings and whether the company will rely on prior consent rather than subsequent opt-out options.