Netizens Call Out Meta's AI Image Generator Feature

On July 7, 2026, Meta announced the rollout of a new AI image generator model called Muse Image. Integrated within the Meta AI chatbot, the model lets users "use presets to spark ideas, @ mention to add photos into your creations, and sketch changes or edits directly on your images."

The launch didn’t fair well for Meta as it was met with instant backlash from the public. As part of the features mentioned above, users can easily make fake or AI-generated images lifted from the photos of anyone with a public account on Instagram just by tagging them.

All Instagram users were automatically opted into this feature by default without their explicit permission. And while Meta has tried to reason that anyone can simply toggle it off in the settings, the caveat clearly wasn’t enough to ease the outcry.

Hollywood actors’ organization SAG-AFTRA was among the first to release a statement on the feature, citing it as an “utter miscalculation of public sentiment.” In another post, they called for their members and their followers to revoke their “consent” on Instagram and for everyone to protect their "likeness."

Soon after, other institutions followed suit, including The Film Academy of the Philippines who also shared a step-by-step guide on how to opt out from being part of the AI tool. “The feature is still rolling out from the US, so the setting may not appear on your account yet, and its exact wording may vary by app version,” they informed the public.

After days of intense blowback, Meta announced on July 11 that they would be removing the @ feature altogether. "Our intent was to provide a creative tool and to give people control over whether their public content could be referenced in this way," they explained in a statement. "We've heard the feedback that this feature missed the mark, so it's no longer available."

Muse Image is the Facebook and Instagram company's first foray into the AI image generation business. Though they've removed its most controversial feature, Meta will continue to release the model to more countries in the near future.