MENLO PARK, Calif., July 12 (San Francisco News Online) — Meta has removed an Instagram and Meta AI image-generation feature that let people create pictures by @-mentioning public Instagram accounts. Reuters reported that Meta launched the tool on Tuesday and pulled it back on Friday. Meta said the feature was “no longer available” after the company said it had “missed the mark.”
What was the feature?
The tool let users ask Meta AI to generate images by using public Instagram accounts as references. Public accounts are profiles anyone can view, unlike private accounts.
How did it work?
Reuters reported that the feature used an opt-out setup. That meant public accounts could be included by default, and adults with public accounts had to disable the feature if they did not want their public content used. Accounts for users under 18 were excluded.
Why did it draw criticism?
The main concern was control. People and organizations worried that public posts could be used as part of AI image generation without a clear opt-in choice. That made the feature look different from a service where users must first agree before their content is used.
How did Meta respond?
Meta said its goal was to offer a useful creative tool and give people control over whether their public content could be referenced. The company said, “We’ve heard the feedback that this feature missed the mark, so it’s no longer available.”
Who objected?
Reuters reported criticism from SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ and performers’ union. Variety reported that Creative Artists Agency welcomed Meta’s decision to eliminate the feature.
What happens now?
For now, users cannot use this tool to generate images by tagging public Instagram accounts. Meta has not said, in the statements cited by the coverage, whether it plans to bring back a revised version with different privacy settings.
The episode shows the pressure on AI products that use public social media content. Even when a company says the material is public, users and creators may still object if the default setting gives the company broad access before people can say no.
