Meta has pulled its new Muse Image feature just three days after its release, following a wave of criticism over privacy and the platform's automatic opt-in approach. The tool, developed by Meta Superintelligence Labs and launched on Tuesday, allowed users to generate AI images referencing other people's public Instagram content.
The company acknowledged it missed the mark with the rollout and removed the function after feedback from analysts and consumer advocates. The feature drew sharp opposition from SAG-AFTRA, which urged members to opt out and called the lack of a clear consent mechanism unacceptable. The actors' union later welcomed the decision to take it down.
Meta said its original intent was to offer a creative tool while giving users control over how their public content was referenced. The company still plans to roll out further AI features across WhatsApp, Facebook, and Messenger.