Meta removed the most controversial part of its Muse Image feature on July 10 after widespread criticism. The feature had allowed anyone to tag a public Instagram account and generate AI images from that person’s public photos without notifying them or asking for permission.
Although Meta disabled that capability, the privacy setting that controlled it remains available. Turning it off now can help limit how Meta uses your content for future AI features, even if it does not reverse any previous use.
How to Turn Off Meta AI Access to Your Instagram Photos
- Open the Instagram app and go to your profile.
- Tap the three-line menu in the top-right corner, then scroll to Sharing and reuse.
- Locate the AI option labeled “Allow people to use your content on Instagram and with AI features on Meta.”
- Disable the toggle for both Posts and Reels.
Depending on your version of Instagram, Meta may place the setting under How others can interact with you instead. If you cannot find it immediately, updating the app and checking both sections may help.
What the Setting Changes and What It Doesn’t
Turning off the setting only affects future use of your content. It does not remove AI-generated images that may have already been created from your public photos before you disabled the option, and Meta has not said it will delete previously generated images.
The setting also applies more broadly than the Muse Image feature that Meta recently removed. It controls how your public Instagram content can be used across Meta’s AI-powered features, making it likely to remain relevant if the company relaunches the feature with changes.
During the original rollout, Meta automatically excluded users under 18 and private accounts. Meta automatically included everyone with a public profile unless they chose to opt out. That default setting became one of the feature’s biggest sources of criticism.
The controversy also reflects Meta’s wider approach to AI data collection. In Europe, the company relies on the GDPR’s “legitimate interests” legal basis to process public content for AI training, allowing users to opt out rather than requiring explicit opt-in consent.
Privacy advocacy group NOYB opposes that approach. The organization argues that users should have greater control over how companies use their data.
Although Meta has withdrawn the original Instagram tagging feature, the company has indicated that it may return in a revised form. Checking this setting now gives users greater control over how future AI products can use their public Instagram content.
Source: TechCrunch, "Instagram Users: Here's How to Stop Meta's AI from Using Your Photos"
