How to Stop Instagram From Using Your Photos to Train Meta’s AI

Earlier this month, Meta launched a new AI image‑generation tool called Muse. The tool uses images from Instagram to train its model, and it has prompted privacy concerns—and pushback from groups like SAG‑AFTRA, which recommended that its members opt out. For the average Instagram user, the good news is that you can limit how your photos are used. Here’s what you need to know and how to opt out right now.

What happened

Meta announced Muse in July 2026. The tool can generate new images based on text prompts, and like many generative AI systems, it needs a large dataset to learn from. Meta has been using public photos from Instagram as part of that training data.

Shortly after the announcement, the performers’ union SAG‑AFTRA publicly advised its members to opt out of the feature, citing concerns over the use of actors’ likenesses without explicit consent. The backlash widened, with cybersecurity companies and privacy advocates also raising flags about how images—especially those containing people’s faces—could be repurposed in ways users never agreed to.

Why it matters

If you’ve posted photos on Instagram, Meta may now use them to help Muse learn how to generate realistic images. The potential risks include:

  • Unintended likeness use: Your face could be used to create images you didn’t authorize, even if your account is public. Meta says it does not create images identifiable to specific people, but the line is blurry.
  • Loss of control: Once a photo is used for training, you can’t easily reverse it. Opt‑out settings are forward‑looking; older content may already have been ingested.
  • No direct compensation: Unlike commissioned work, your everyday photos can help train a commercial product without you receiving anything in return.

It’s worth noting that at this point, the exact scope of data collected and how long it is retained are not fully detailed in Meta’s public disclosures. The company has said it will give users a way to object, but the opt‑out process is not automatic.

What readers can do

Meta has provided a setting that lets you stop your future Instagram photos from being used for Muse training. Here are the steps as they exist now:

  1. Open Instagram and go to your profile.
  2. Tap the hamburger menu (three lines) in the top right, then select Settings.
  3. Scroll down to Privacy and tap it.
  4. Look for a section called Data sharing with Meta AI (the exact label may vary slightly by region and device). If you don’t see it, try searching for “AI training” in the Settings search bar.
  5. Toggle the switch off for “Allow sharing of your photos for AI training.”

That toggle is forward‑looking. It does not retroactively remove photos already used. If you want to be more cautious, you can also:

  • Make older posts private by switching your account to private (Settings > Privacy > Account privacy). This may limit future data collection.
  • Delete specific photos you don’t want in the training set. This won’t remove them from models already trained, but it prevents further use.
  • Check your data download periodically. Instagram lets you request a copy of your data, which can show you what information the platform holds.

If you’re a professional performer or concerned about your personal likeness, SAG‑AFTRA’s recommendation is worth following. The union suggested all members opt out and keep an eye on future updates.

Sources

  • Yahoo Finance coverage of Muse and privacy concerns (July 10, 2026)
  • AOL.com and Yahoo Tech reports on the SAG‑AFTRA opt‑out recommendation
  • Instagram’s official Help Center and privacy settings documentation

Last updated: July 2026. Settings and policies may change; check Meta’s official privacy page for current details.