Meta reverses AI image tagging after 3-day backlash
meta rolled back a generative ai feature that defaulted to scraping instagram likenesses after public outcry, signaling that aggressive ai integration poses reputational risks.
meta activated a feature allowing its ai chatbot to tag and generate images using public instagram accounts by default, requiring users to manually opt out. after a viral backlash from creators and privacy activists, the company admitted the feature 'missed the mark' and reversed the setting within three days. experts argue that companies exploit status quo bias, where users stick with pre-selected options, and point to the eu's gdpr as a framework that mandates privacy-by-design defaults. this incident highlights a tension between tech companies' push to integrate generative ai and a growing public demand for opt-in consent models.