Meta has rolled out Muse Image, a new free AI picture generator that works in Ghana through the Meta AI app, Instagram Stories, and WhatsApp. The tool lets you create images from text descriptions — think of it as asking an artist to draw what you describe, except the artist is software.
But Ghanaians and users worldwide are already raising red flags about privacy. The reason: Meta lets people use your public Instagram photos to create AI images without asking your permission first.
What can Muse Image actually do?
The basics are straightforward. You type a description — “a cat wearing sunglasses” or “a beach at sunset” — and Muse generates an image. Meta includes preset prompts (pre-written ideas) to get you started if you’re stuck for inspiration.
Muse also has practical features: mock up how furniture might look in your room before buying it on Facebook Marketplace, edit out photobombers from your photos, or create custom images for ads.
The free tier works for everyday use. If you hit a usage limit, you’ll need to pay for a subscription.
The privacy problem: your photos, without your say-so
Here’s where it gets uncomfortable. If your Instagram profile is public, anyone can tag you in Muse to create AI images using your photos — without telling you. You won’t get a notification. One X user put it bluntly: “Pulling real users into generated photos without explicit consent is a privacy landmine waiting to detonate.”
Meta says you have a way to stop this: go to your settings and disable the feature. But it’s opt-out, not opt-in — meaning Meta turns it on by default, and you have to turn it off yourself.
This pattern worries privacy experts because Meta has a track record. The company paid USD 5 billion to US regulators in 2019 after the Cambridge Analytica scandal, where user data was harvested without consent. Meta also shut down its facial-recognition system in 2021 amid lawsuits and regulatory pressure over its collection of biometric data.
What should Ghanaians do?
If you want to try Muse: Open Meta AI, Instagram, or WhatsApp and look for the image generator. You can create images for free within the monthly limit.
If you’re concerned about your photos being used: Go to your Instagram settings, find the AI features section, and turn off the option to let others create content using your images. Check this regularly — Meta may change defaults.
Keep watching: Meta is developing Muse Video (an AI video tool) next. The same privacy questions will apply.
The tool itself is useful and free. Just be aware of what you’re trading for it.
Sources:
Leave a Reply