Instagram Photos Now Used by Meta AI for Image Generation, Sparking Privacy Outrage

Meta AI has launched a new tool called "Muse Image" that allows users to create novel images using artificial intelligence based on any public Instagram photos. This feature, enabled automatically for adult users with public profiles, has sparked significant user backlash, with many labeling it a "privacy trap."

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Companies are implementing new AI tools incredibly quickly, and user data protection often remains a secondary concern. Platforms increasingly use automatic consent practices. This means people's content and photos are used as raw material to train AI systems or create content similar to yours without asking.

Users are expressing outrage on social media, sharing concerns that strangers can now use their published photos to generate new content without their knowledge or permission. The automatic activation of this feature for public accounts has fueled fears of data misuse and a disregard for personal privacy by the platform.

Darius Povilaitis, head of cybersecurity at Telia, highlighted the rapid pace at which companies are implementing AI tools, often at the expense of user data protection. He noted the increasing trend of "automatic consent," where user content is used as raw material for AI systems without explicit approval. Povilaitis stressed that while private accounts and minors are excluded from this specific function, users should remain vigilant.

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You can certainly relax, but you shouldn't. Companies are constantly changing rules, so new settings can appear at any time. Furthermore, data collection mechanisms can easily be triggered if you use VPN services on your phone or browse while traveling outside Europe. Therefore, even in Lithuania, it is important not to wait and to review your account settings yourself.

While the situation initially affected users in the United States, European Union and Lithuanian residents face slightly different regulations due to stricter data protection laws like GDPR. These laws generally prohibit companies from using personal data without clear consent. However, Povilaitis cautioned against complacency, advising users in Lithuania and elsewhere to proactively review their privacy settings, as platform rules can change, and data collection mechanisms might still be triggered, especially when using VPNs or traveling outside the EU.

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The simplest way to prevent AI from using your content is to make your account private. If you still want to keep your profile public, change the app settings immediately.

To protect their photos, users are advised to make their Instagram accounts private. If a public profile is preferred, adjusting the app's privacy settings is crucial. Povilaitis also recommended thoughtful consideration before posting personal content online, emphasizing that limiting the amount of personal information shared publicly reduces the risk of unwanted use by automated tools. He also noted that even with private photos, Meta may still collect text and comments for AI training.

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Before posting content on social media, I advise you to think about whether you would like this photo or information to be available not only to your friends but also to various automated tools. The less personal content we publish publicly, the fewer opportunities there are to use it in unwanted ways.