Meta Launches Muse Image, Sparking a Privacy Debate

On July 8, 2026, as reported by The New York Times, Meta (the parent company of Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp) introduced its new AI image generator, Muse Image. This tool includes a surprising feature: it allows other users to generate AI images based on photos from public Instagram accounts.

User Reactions and Meta's Exceptions

The lack of prior notification and automatic opt-in raised concerns among hundreds of users, who called the measure a 'privacy bomb'. However, the news is not entirely alarming, as the company has implemented clear protections. A Meta spokesperson assured that private accounts and users under 18 years old are excluded from this feature. Additionally, teenagers are also not allowed to use the tool on other people's accounts.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Protect Your Photos

If you want to keep your account public but protect your images, you can easily do so 'with just a couple of clicks,' according to Meta. Here is how to disable the feature:

1. Go to your Instagram settings.
2. Scroll down to the Share and reuse tab.
3. Look for the Allow people to reuse your content on Instagram and with Meta AI features section.
4. Turn off the option. And that is it, your content will be protected!

Another even simpler alternative is to set your account to private. It is important to note that, currently, users cannot prevent their audio, text, and comments from being reused by Meta's AI through this configuration.

Context in the Artificial Intelligence Industry

These types of privacy challenges are not exclusive to Meta. OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, faced similar issues with the launch of Sora, its AI video generator. The big difference was that OpenAI required prior consent from individuals to use their image. Sora was shut down in March 2026, partly due to its high operational costs. (It is worth noting that The New York Times has sued OpenAI for alleged copyright infringement, accusations that the startup has denied).

Source: The New York Times in Spanish