Meta Disables Instagram Feature That Let Users Create AI Deepfakes of Public Accounts

Meta has disabled an Instagram feature that had been introduced just a few days earlier, which let users create AI images based on the content of public accounts simply by tagging them in a prompt.

The decision came after a significant wave of criticism. The problem was that, given how the feature was originally set up, the content of any public Instagram account could be used to create AI images without the account owner's consent or permission.

This approach effectively opened the door to creating deepfakes — synthetic images that imitate real people — from publicly available photos and videos, without any control on the part of those whose material was being used.

Under pressure from the public and from users, Meta backed away from this implementation of the feature.

Once again, the case highlighted the difficulties big tech companies face in bringing generative AI tools to social platforms: opportunities for user creativity easily turn into a tool for abuse if the system does not account for the consent of those whose likeness or content is being used.

Source: The Verge