How to Stop Meta’s New AI from Using Your Instagram Photos

In July 2026, Meta launched an AI image generation tool called Muse AI. The tool can create or edit images based on text prompts—and it trains on photos from Instagram. For many users, the default setting means their photos may be used to train the model without explicit consent. If you want to control how your images are used, here’s what happened, why it matters, and how to opt out.

What Happened

Meta’s Muse AI is a generative image model that can produce new visuals or modify existing ones. According to reports from Yahoo Finance and other outlets, Meta began using Instagram photos (both public and, in some cases, private accounts) as training data. The company did not send a separate notification to each user; instead, the data-use policy was updated, and the opt-out was placed inside the account settings.

Shortly after launch, the actors’ union SAG-AFTRA advised its members to opt out “to protect your likeness.” The union’s public statement, covered by Yahoo and other media, warned that the default data use could let Meta create AI-generated images that resemble real people without their permission.

Why It Matters

The main privacy risks stem from how broadly Meta can apply your images:

  • Likeness use. Even if you never post a selfie, any photo that includes your face could be used to train a model that generates images of people who look like you.
  • Data retention. It is not clear how long Meta keeps training data or whether you can fully withdraw an image after it has been used.
  • Third-party access. Meta has not stated whether other companies or developers will be able to use Muse AI through APIs, potentially spreading your image data beyond Instagram.

The ambiguity around private accounts is another concern. Some coverage suggests that photos from private profiles may still be scraped if they appear in public comments or are reshared. Meta’s own documentation acknowledges that the tool can train on any image available on the platform, though the company says it builds in privacy safeguards. Critics argue those safeguards are not strong enough.

What Readers Can Do: Step-by-Step Opt-Out

You can stop your future photos from being used for Muse AI training. The process is available in Instagram’s settings as of July 2026. Note that images already used may not be removed from existing training data—opt-out is prospective only.

  1. Open Instagram and go to your profile.
  2. Tap the three-line menu (top right on iOS/Android) and select Settings.
  3. Tap Privacy.
  4. Scroll down and tap Muse AI Training (or search for “Muse” in Settings).
  5. Toggle off “Allow use of your photos for Muse AI training.”
  6. Confirm the change. You may be asked to re-enter your password.

If you don’t see this option, check that your app is updated to the latest version. Meta may also offer a web-based version of this setting at accountscenter.instagram.com.

Additional precautions:

  • Set your account to private. Public accounts are more likely to be scraped for training.
  • Review and delete any old photos you would rather not have in the training pool—though again, this does not retroactively remove data already ingested.
  • If you are a SAG-AFTRA member, follow their specific guidance on submitting an additional request to Meta.

What About Photos Already Used?

Meta has not provided a way to retroactively opt out. Some privacy advocates suggest contacting support and requesting removal under the EU’s GDPR or California’s CCPA if you fall under those jurisdictions. Be aware that this is uncertain: the company may refuse, citing “anonymized” training data. In practice, the most reliable control is the prospective opt-out.

Sources

  • Yahoo Finance: “What Meta’s Muse AI image tool means for Instagram privacy” (July 10, 2026)
  • Yahoo News: “SAG-AFTRA Recommends Members Opt-Out Of Meta’s AI Feature” (July 10, 2026)
  • Meta’s official help center page on Muse AI (current as of July 2026)
  • Independent privacy analyses from the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Wired (July 2026)

Check back periodically: settings and policies are likely to evolve. For now, the toggle exists—use it if you value control over how your images are used by AI.