Meta has removed its new AI image generation feature, Muse Image, from Instagram after backlash over privacy concerns, admitting it 'missed the mark.'
Meta's Muse Image allowed people to use content on public-facing accounts to create AI-generated or altered content and images, which sparked blowback due to privacy concerns.
# Meta pulls new AI image feature after days of backlash
Source: [https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2dy6e8klw0o](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2dy6e8klw0o)
Meta
An AI\-altered image generated using Muse Image
Meta has abruptly taken down a new feature that allowed people to use its artificial intelligence \(AI\) tool to make fake images from user content on Instagram\.
The feature was part of a broad rollout of Muse Image, a new AI image generation tool Instagram's parent companyreleased on Tuesday\.
It allowed users of the Meta AI chatbotto tag public\-facing accounts on Instagram and quickly use content on those accounts to create AI\-generated or altered content and images\.
The feature quickly[sparked blowback](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp9lee19y1yo)due to privacy concerns, leading Meta to admit it had “missed the mark" so it was**"**no longer available”\.
Muse Image was the tech firm's first foray into AI image generation but faced backlash as Instagram users were opted in by default\.
It meant that anyone with a public account could have their likeness used without their knowledge or permission\.
Hollywood union Sag\-Aftra described the U\-turn as a "win"\. It had previously urged its members and "all Instagram users" to take action to protect their likeness stating that there had been an "utter miscalculation of public sentiment regarding the obvious dangers and harms inherent in such use"\.
The London\-based human rights charity Privacy International had also criticised the feature, telling the BBC it was "the latest sign AI companies see people's images and data as raw material to be exploited"\.
“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,” Meta added in its decision to pull the feature\. “We've heard the feedback\.”
[When Meta announced Muse Image](https://about.fb.com/news/2026/07/introducing-muse-image-meta-ai/), the firm said it was limited to Instagram, but more AI features and integrations were planned for WhatsApp, Facebook and Messenger\.
It also has an AI video tool in development\.
Meta declined to make any further comment\.
Meta has removed a controversial AI feature on Instagram that allowed users to generate images by referencing public Instagram accounts without notification, following widespread backlash and scrutiny.
Meta's new AI image generator Muse Image can use public Instagram photos, raising consent and privacy concerns. Users can opt out by toggling a setting in their Instagram profile.
Meta has disabled its Instagram AI image generation feature that allowed users to create deepfakes of public accounts, following significant backlash over privacy and consent issues.
Meta launched its Muse Image AI model with deep Instagram integration, automatically opting public profiles into allowing others to use their photos for AI-generated images. Users must dig into settings to opt out, and no notifications are sent when their images are used.
Meta launched Muse Image, the first AI image generation model from its Superintelligence Labs division, now powering image tools across Meta AI, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The model lets users @mention other Instagram accounts to incorporate their likeness into AI-generated photos.