Meta Finally Gives Users the Option to Prevent Their Photos from Being Used in AI Training
In a long-awaited move, Meta (Meta), the owner of Facebook and Instagram, has announced a new update that allows users to prevent their photos and visual data from being used in Artificial Intelligence (AI) training. This decision comes after widespread criticism from privacy activists and regulatory bodies around the world, particularly in Europe.
What Was Happening?
Since the launch of the “Imagine Me” feature on Meta AI, users’ public account photos were automatically used to train the AI model to regenerate new personal photos. This meant that anyone could point to your public account and ask the AI to create a photo “in your style” — without your explicit consent.
The New Update: How It Works
With the latest update, owners of public accounts on Instagram can disable the use of their photos through simple steps:
- Open the Instagram app and go to your profile
- Click on the main menu (the three lines at the top)
- Choose Privacy Settings
- Go to the “Sharing and Reuse” section
- Disable the option “Allow people to create content and reuse your content”
Important Note: Private accounts and minors’ accounts are automatically excluded from this feature. If your photos were previously generated through Meta AI, you can delete them through the “Delete my AI photos” option in Meta AI settings.
The Situation in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is one of the most active countries in the Arab world in using Facebook and Instagram, with over 30 million user accounts. With the Saudi Vision 2030 aiming to enhance digital privacy and protect personal data through the Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL), this update is a positive step for Saudi users.
The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) continuously regulates the use of AI in the Kingdom, making it essential for users to be aware of these options to protect their digital privacy.
⚠️ Important Points Before Disabling
- Final Decision for the Future: After disabling, Meta will not use your new photos for AI training
- Previous Photos: Need to be manually deleted through the “Delete my AI photos” option
- Facebook Too: The same settings apply to Facebook and WhatsApp (to a lesser extent)
- No Impact on Experience: Disabling the feature does not prevent you from using the Meta AI assistant itself
- Update is Coming Gradually: Some accounts may not see the option immediately
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who Needs to Disable This Feature?
Anyone with a public account on Instagram or Facebook who does not want their photos and facial features used in AI training. Users concerned about their digital privacy, activists, bloggers, and celebrities are the most in need of this option.
Where are the settings activated?
Inside the Instagram app: Profile ← Main Menu ← Settings ← Privacy ← Sharing and Reuse. On Facebook, the settings are located in Settings ← Privacy ← Artificial Intelligence (Meta AI).
Yes, completely free. There are no fees to disable the use of your photos. All you need is an active Instagram/Facebook account and access to the settings.
How long does the disabling process take?
It takes no more than 30 seconds to two minutes. The steps are simple and straightforward, and the result appears immediately after saving the settings.
How do I ensure the disabling is successful and previous photos are deleted?
After disabling the option, go to Meta AI settings and look for “Delete my AI photos” or “Your AI-generated content”. Press delete all (Delete All). The generated images will disappear within 24 hours.
Summary
With the increasing use of artificial intelligence in our daily lives, controlling our personal data has become more important than ever. Meta’s new update gives you the freedom to choose whether your photos will be used to train smart models or not. In the Kingdom, with data protection systems in place, every user is advised to review and activate these settings to protect their digital privacy.
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