13/07/2026 19:23 - Tecnologia
The parent company of Instagram, Meta, decided to disable one of its most recent and controversial features on July 13, 2026. The tool in question allowed the company artificial intelligence to generate and edit images directly using the photographs and personal content of platform users.
According to specialized media reports, the option was part of the integrations of Meta AI, the company artificial intelligence assistant. This feature had the ability to take photos uploaded by Instagram users and process them through generative AI algorithms to create new images, styles, or edits.
Generative artificial intelligence is a branch of technology focused on creating new content (text, images, audio) from patterns learned in existing data. In this case, Meta AI learned from the faces and scenes in users personal photos to synthesize new images.
The launch of this tool generated an immediate debate in the digital community. Cybersecurity experts and digital privacy advocates warned about the risks of using sensitive personal data—such as a person face—without explicit and transparent consent to train models and generate new creations.
Faced with a wave of reactions and user concerns, Meta decided to reverse course and disable the feature. While the company always seeks to integrate new technologies into its social networks, this setback sets a precedent regarding ethical limits in the use of users personal information.
A Step Toward Data Protection
The elimination of this feature reaffirms the need for big tech companies to evaluate the privacy impact before launching new AI-driven tools.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
