How to stop Meta's Muse Image AI from using your public Instagram photos

Meta's latest AI image generator is designed to make creating and editing images easier than ever. But one feature, in particular, has quickly become the subject of debate, not because of what it can create, but because of whose photos it can use.

Launched on Tuesday, Muse Image enables users to generate original visuals, edit existing pictures and even create AI-powered advertisements directly within Meta's ecosystem. However, the feature also allows people to generate AI images using photographs from public Instagram profiles simply by tagging the account.

The capability has prompted concerns among privacy advocates and users alike, with critics questioning whether people are sufficiently aware that their publicly shared photos could be incorporated into AI-generated content created by strangers.

The issue has also raised a practical question for Instagram users: Can you stop your photos from being used? The answer is yes, but only if you manually change a setting.

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How to stop your Instagram photos from being used by Muse Image

Meta says users can opt out of allowing their public Instagram content to be used with its AI features.

To disable the setting:

Once disabled, your public Instagram content will no longer be available for this particular AI feature.

The setting is especially relevant for users with public profiles. Private accounts, along with accounts belonging to users under the age of 18, are excluded from the feature by default.

Why the feature is drawing criticism

While Muse Image introduces several creative AI tools, it is this specific functionality that has generated the strongest reaction.

According to reports, users can create AI-generated images by referencing someone else's public Instagram account. Although Meta says safeguards are in place, the company also acknowledges that users will not receive notifications if their public content is used through its AI features.

That lack of visibility has become one of the biggest points of contention.

Critics argue that many Instagram users may not realise their photos can be repurposed in this way, especially if they have never explored Meta's AI-related privacy settings. Others have raised broader concerns around consent, warning that such capabilities could increase the risk of impersonation, harassment or unwanted image manipulation.

The feature has also sparked discussion online about Meta's unique advantage in generative AI.

Some users pointed to the company's access to vast amounts of social data. One widely shared comment suggested that Meta's competitive edge lies not only in image quality but also in the sheer volume of personal context available through its platforms.

Meta, however, maintains that users remain in control. The company says the opt-out setting gives people the choice to prevent their public Instagram content from being used with its AI tools, while stressing that phone numbers, private accounts and underage users are protected through separate safeguards.

Muse Image is the latest addition to Meta's rapidly expanding AI portfolio. Over the past year, the company has introduced several AI-powered products, including a Creator assistant and Pocket, a tool that helps users build video games using natural language prompts.

As generative AI becomes more deeply integrated into social media, features such as Muse Image are likely to intensify the debate around privacy, transparency and consent. For now, users concerned about how their public photos might be used would be wise to review their Instagram settings—before someone else turns those images into an AI creation.