SAG-AFTRA Urges Members to Opt Out of Meta’s New “Muse Image” AI Tool

Meta has introduced “Muse Image,” an AI feature that can generate new pictures by remixing any public Instagram photo. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) warned members on Thursday that the tool can use their likenesses without consent. The union posted step-by-step instructions for Instagram users to disable the feature, urging creators to protect their image rights.

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SAG-AFTRA’s statement emphasized that “Meta now lets anyone use your Instagram photos in AI images without your consent,” and recommended that all members and Instagram users opt out of Muse Image. The Creative Artists Agency (CAA) echoed the concern, insisting that no creator’s name, image, likeness, voice, or work should be used by third parties—including AI models—without documented permission. Meta responded that Muse Image was built with “strong controls and safety guardrails from day one,” noting that private accounts and accounts belonging to users under 18 are automatically excluded and that adult users with public profiles can opt out with a few clicks. The company added it will act against any content that violates its Community Standards.

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CAA’s spokesperson argued that responsible AI requires clear disclosures, swift removal of unauthorized content, and tools that let creators monitor and restrict usage. The agency called for Meta to implement additional safeguards, despite its own “AI Vault” program that archives members’ likenesses indefinitely. Critics fear that the ease of tagging a public feed for AI remixing could lead to permanent, unconsented exploitation of performers’ images.

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• “Meta now lets anyone use your Instagram photos in AI images without your consent.” — SAG-AFTRA statement

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• “SAG-AFTRA recommends that #SagAftraMembers (and all Instagram users) opt-OUT of Meta’s new AI image generation tool, Muse Image. Take action to protect your likeness.” — SAG-AFTRA statement

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• “No one’s name, image, likeness, voice, or creative work should be used by any third party, including AI models, without clear, documented consent. True innovation puts creators first: respecting their rights, protecting their livelihoods, and giving them real control, not handing it over to platforms,” — CAA spokesperson

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• “We built Muse Image with strong controls and safety guardrails from day one. Private accounts and those belonging to users under 18 are automatically excluded and adult users with public accounts can opt-out with just a couple clicks. We will take action against any content that violates our Community Standards,” — Meta statement

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SAG-AFTRA has endorsed the Trump administration’s AI policy framework, which urges Congress to enact legislation covering parental controls, intellectual-property protections, First-Amendment safeguards, AI workforce development, and reduced regulatory barriers. The administration’s recent executive order mandates a 30-day government review of new AI models before release, signaling a broader push for oversight that could shape how platforms like Meta manage creator data moving forward.

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