Instagram is the most widely used social media platform in India. From sharing Reels posts to connecting with new people, the app is used for everything from millions of users to millions of users. The company periodically introduces new features for these millions of users. Recently, Meta rolled out the AI ​​generation tool Muse in the app. However, users are protesting this tool. In light of this user backlash, Meta has now decided to remove this AI tool from Instagram.

According to media reports, Meta stated on its official blog that the company designed this feature to provide users with a new creative tool. Furthermore, this tool allowed users to decide whether their posts would be included in AI. However, due to user opposition to this tool, it has now been decided to remove this feature. Muse Image's other AI image generation systems will remain available as before.

What did the Indian  government say?

The Indian government has taken this matter seriously. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has stated that the government will test this feature. They have stated that if a complaint is filed, the entire matter will be considered under Indian law. The Indian government has long been taking action against deepfakes and unauthorized AI photos. Therefore, this Instagram feature is a matter of serious concern for India as well. The government has previously sought answers from several companies regarding AI tools.

Opposition from all over the world
This feature on Instagram was not only opposed by the common users, but the American artists' union SAG-AFTRA also advised its members to be cautious. Leading talent agency CAA has said that no person's face, name, voice or photo can be used in AI models without his/her explicit permission. Many privacy organizations have also criticized Meta and said that AI companies are using people's personal photos only as data.

Why did users oppose this feature?
This feature already covered public Instagram accounts. This meant that if a user did not want their photos to be shared with AI, they had to make some changes in the settings. Furthermore, Meta did not inform users that their profiles were being used to create AI images. This created an atmosphere of fear among people and increased concerns that their photos would be used without their permission. Private accounts and accounts of users under the age of 18 were not included in this feature.

What is Muse Image?
Muse Image is a new AI tool from Meta that creates images based on simple instructions. It can be used to edit photos, remove objects, change backgrounds, improve the quality of old photos, and even create new interior designs using room photos.

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