Cyber news, tools & one smart career path.
5 min read
Quick Reality Check
Instagram now lets strangers turn your photos into AI images unless you opt out, meaning your face and posts can be used in someone else’s prompt without separate approval.
What happened:
As part of Meta's Muse Image rollout, Instagram users with public accounts are opted in by default to a content-sharing policy. This allows anyone using the Meta AI app to @-mention a public Instagram handle and have that person's public photos, profile picture, or Reels pulled directly into an AI-generated picture.
According to reports, this feature allows other users to reference and build images using your likeness entirely on demand. Meta’s support page notes that you will not be notified when your content is used to create these AI images, and any AI generations already created using your photos will remain on the platform and will not be retroactively deleted if you turn the feature off later.
Why it matters:
When a feature allows anyone to tag your username and generate a brand-new image using your face and body in about five seconds, it completely removes your control. You get no notification that it is happening, you have no prior review, and you don't even know it exists.
Your digital likeness is your identity online. If a stranger can use your actual photos as reference material for AI prompts, it opens the immediate door for unapproved imagery, deepfakes, and targeted harassment.
Read more here
60-Second Protection Fix
Here is what you can do to protect yourself:
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Open the Instagram app on your device and navigate to your profile tab.
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Tap the menu icon (the horizontal lines) in the top right corner to open your settings.
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Scroll down and tap Sharing and reuse.
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Look for the section titled "Allow people to reuse your content on Instagram and with AI features at Meta."
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Locate the individual toggles for your Posts and Reels, and toggle them both off. This prevents other users from using your handle to pull images into Meta AI.
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Consider switching your account to private if you want an absolute lock on your content, as this feature only pulls from public accounts.
Into the Breach is coming to YouTube soon
Into the Breach premieres on YouTube on August 8, the same week as Black Hat USA. The cybersecurity docuseries, hosted by Kari Byron of MythBusters and produced by OPSWAT, investigates the breaches and defenses shaping the future of critical infrastructure security.
Every power grid, water system, and financial network runs on technology that was never designed for today's threat landscape. This docuseries goes inside that problem with real access, real experts, and the stories no one else is telling.
And if you are heading to Black Hat, keep an eye out for OPSWAT on the ground.
*Sponsored by OPSWAT
What You Missed This Week
Head of @nato talks about how we are staying ahead in the AI arms race.
Here is what he said!
If you haven’t reserved your WhatsApp username go do it today before someone steals it!
Here is how
Starting today, Anthropic may be asking for your govt ID and a face scan based on their new privacy policy
Here is what you need to know
Let’s keep building together!
Stay protected,
Cybersecurity Girl
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