Meta has discontinued its Muse Image AI feature on Instagram following intense user backlash over privacy concerns. The tool allowed Meta AI to pull images from public Instagram accounts and generate new creations based on user prompts, often without the subjects' knowledge or consent.

Reuters reports Meta stated the feature "missed the mark" and is no longer available. Users were automatically opted in, sparking outrage when discovered. SAG-AFTRA condemned the lack of clear opt-in, warning of "nonconsensual digital replicas" where anyone's photo could be manipulated.

The controversy coincides with another privacy issue: Meta rolled out a mandatory update disabling its smart glasses' camera if the privacy light is tampered with, addressing misuse concerns. Nickolas notes the feature felt strange from the start, as most users were unaware of its capabilities.

It remains unclear if Muse Image will return in a revised form. The incident highlights growing tension between AI innovation and user privacy expectations on social platforms.