'Missed the mark': Meta removes AI feature on Instagram after global backlash
Meta has removed an Instagram feature that automatically allowed public user posts to be used for AI training following significant global backlash. Experts and users criticized the 'opt-out' approach as unethical, leading the company to reverse its decision.
Why it matters
The incident underscores growing public concern regarding data privacy and the ethical use of personal content in training generative AI models.
Meta has backed down on a controversial feature that allowed people's public Instagram posts to be used by anyone for AI generation.
The Muse Image function announced earlier this week was automatically being turned on for Instagram accounts, with Meta calling it "image generation built for your world".
However, after strong negative feedback on the feature and coverage in media such as RNZ, BBC, Wired , New York Times and more, Meta and its CEO Mark Zuckerberg have done an about-face.
"We've heard the feedback that this feature missed the mark, so it's no longer available," Meta posted Saturday afternoon NZ time on their announcement page .
"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," the company said.
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