SAG-AFTRA warns members against Meta’s latest AI feature: “Take action”
The Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) has warned members against Meta’s new AI image feature, which has sparked privacy concerns across several industries.
On July 7th, Meta launched Muse Image, which can generate artificial images using other people’s profile pictures without telling them.
Subsequently, on July 9th, SAG-AFTRA shared strict instructions with its members on how to disable the controversial new tool.
“Meta now lets anyone use your Instagram photos in AI images without your consent,” the guild shared in an official statement.
As per Deadline, the statement continued, “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.”
The union shared that Instagram users can “dig into the app’s settings” to reject the tool.
“Open the Instagram app, tap your profile, then tap the three lines in the top-right corner of the screen. Then, scroll down to the sharing and reuse tab,” the statement guided.
If a user’s consent isn’t rescinded, a Muse user can tag a public or unprotected IG feed, and it instantly becomes material for the AI generator to create an artificial image.
From there, members and beyond were encouraged to toggle the section labeled “Allow people to use your content on Instagram and with AI features on Meta” to “off”.
SAG-AFTRA isn’t the only organisation publicly rejecting the new development. The Creative Artists Agency (CAA) called for Meta to implement guardrails for Muse.
A CAA spokesperson stated, “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.”
In a similar vein, actor Cate Blanchett recently launched a new website which allows actors to provide or withdraw their consent for their likenesses to be used by AI.
Notably, she was one among over 700 names to sign an anti-AI campaign back in January.
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