Tag: Instagram

  • Meta Removes Instagram Ads and Blocks Accounts in India Amid Child Safety Investigation

    Meta Removes Instagram Ads and Blocks Accounts in India Amid Child Safety Investigation

    Meta has removed multiple Instagram advertisements, advertiser accounts, and linked external websites after facing scrutiny over content that allegedly violated child safety norms in India. The company stated it has widened its internal investigation while reiterating that it does not permit child sexual exploitative and abuse material (CSEAM) on its platforms.

    This statement marks Meta’s first detailed response since the Indian government’s Centre issued a notice directing the company to immediately disable advertisements and content that promoted or facilitated access to such material on Instagram. Authorities also sought a detailed explanation from the social media giant within seven days.

    Meta Removes Offending Instagram Ads, Expands Probe After Centre’s Notice

    According to Meta, some of the reported advertisements and advertiser accounts had already been flagged and removed through its enforcement systems before the issue came to public attention. The tech giant conducted another review, removing additional advertisements, disabling more advertiser accounts, and blocking related external websites.

    Meta also acknowledged that its enforcement systems are not infallible and that some content may evade detection before it is reported or identified. The company went on to say that it consistently monitors all complaints and enhances its enforcement mechanisms when any inappropriate content manages to pass through its existing protection system.

    Meanwhile, Meta refuted claims that its advertisement mechanism had intentionally advertised inappropriate content relating to children. The company explained that its advertisements are monitored through artificial intelligence as well as human reviewers.

    Child Safety Remains Under Regulatory Spotlight

    Highlighting its child safety efforts, Meta said, “Over 4 million accounts linked with activities of suspicious nature around children were suspended.” It further claimed that 36 million posts concerning child exploitation all over the world were also removed within a year.

    The company stated that it is continuously making investments in sophisticated technology to identify illegal activities while collaborating with law enforcement agencies and organizations working for the welfare of children. This entire controversy has increased pressure on Meta’s content moderation policies as well as its policies related to advertisements in India.

  • Meta Unveils Muse Image: AI-Powered Photo Creation and Editing Comes to Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp

    Meta Unveils Muse Image: AI-Powered Photo Creation and Editing Comes to Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp

    Meta has officially launched Muse Image, the first image-generation model developed by its newly formed Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL). The AI model is now integrated into Meta AI, allowing users to generate, edit, and transform images using natural language prompts, uploaded photos, sketches, and annotations directly within Meta’s suite of apps.

    What Makes Muse Image Different?

    Unlike traditional AI image generators that rely solely on text prompts, Muse Image understands complex instructions, interacts with user-uploaded images, and even allows modifications by drawing on images or adding annotations. This makes the creation and editing process more interactive and flexible—all without leaving apps like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger.

    Key Features of Meta Muse Image

    • Text-to-Image Generation: Describe almost any scene in natural language, and Muse Image will produce a corresponding image, handling intricate requests with multiple details.
    • Image Editing: Upload an existing photo and ask Meta AI to modify it—change backgrounds, lighting, clothing, or add new objects—without regenerating from scratch.
    • Sketch-Based Editing: Draw simple sketches or annotations over an image, and the AI will replace, remove, or enhance those specific areas.
    • Instagram Stories Effects: Over 30 new AI-powered effects, enabled by Muse Image, are rolling out to Instagram Stories for creative visual enhancements.
    • In-Chat Image Creation on WhatsApp: Users can generate images directly within WhatsApp conversations using Meta AI, initially rolling out in select countries before a global launch.

    How to Use Muse Image

    Using Muse Image is straightforward through Meta AI:

    1. Open Meta AI in a supported app (e.g., Instagram or WhatsApp).
    2. Type a text prompt describing the image you want to create.
    3. If modifying an existing image, upload a photo.
    4. Use sketches or annotations to highlight specific areas for change.
    5. Review the generated image and refine it further with additional prompts.

    Support for Facebook and Messenger will expand as Meta continues to roll out the feature.

    Meta’s Bigger AI Ambitions

    Alongside Muse Image, Meta teased its upcoming Muse Video AI model, which aims to generate video content from prompts. Although still in development, it signals Meta’s commitment to building not only advanced image generation but also AI-powered video creation. By embedding these capabilities into apps used by billions, Meta hopes to make AI-driven content creation accessible to everyone.

  • Meta Challenges $1.4 Trillion Penalty Demand in Youth Safety Lawsuit Over Facebook and Instagram

    Meta Challenges $1.4 Trillion Penalty Demand in Youth Safety Lawsuit Over Facebook and Instagram

    Meta has disclosed that four U.S. states are seeking approximately $1.4 trillion in penalties in a youth safety lawsuit targeting Facebook and Instagram. The company revealed the figure in a court filing on Monday, ahead of a trial scheduled for August in Oakland, California.

    The case involves California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, which accuse Meta of designing its platforms to maximize engagement among young users and of misleading the public about safety measures. Meta has denied these allegations and questioned the penalty demand, calling it unprecedented.

    Meta Questions $1.4 Trillion Penalty Claim

    According to Meta, the proposed penalty figure emerged from filings by the attorneys general outlining how penalties should be calculated if the states prevail at trial. The company noted that the amount is close to its market value and argued that the states have not provided evidence to support such a sum.

    In its filing, Meta stated, “A sanction of that size has no analog in the history of consumer protection enforcement.” The company also asserted that the figure lacks a proper legal basis under the facts of the case.

    The states’ filings are sealed, but they explained part of their methodology at a June court hearing. They indicated that they calculated the number of alleged violations and multiplied that by fine amounts permitted under state consumer laws. The violations were based on estimates of teens and young users allegedly affected by Meta’s conduct. Representatives for the attorneys general did not immediately comment after Meta disclosed the figure.

    Facebook and Instagram Face Youth Safety Trial

    The August trial will take place before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. It will cover claims under the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) as well as consumer protection claims from the four states.

    Twenty-nine states have sued Meta in federal court, with many alleging that the company collected data from children without proper parental consent. The four states also claim that Meta misled the public about whether Facebook and Instagram were safe for young users.

    Meta rejects this position. The company argues that the attorneys general have not shown that it misled users about platform addiction. It also contends that “social media addiction” is not an established psychiatric condition, so its statements about addiction cannot be false.

    Judge Rogers recently denied Meta’s request to cancel the trial, stating that factual disputes remain, including whether the platforms were addictive, whether Meta denied designing them that way, and whether the company partly directed the platforms at children.

    Meta Also Faces WhatsApp Scrutiny in India

    Separately, Meta is facing a regulatory issue in India over a new WhatsApp usernames feature. The feature would allow users to chat without sharing phone numbers. India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has asked Meta to pause the rollout and explain its safety controls.

    Officials have raised concerns that usernames could be used for spoofing or fraud, with scammers potentially copying names linked to real people, government offices, or trusted organizations. Meta has until July 9 to send a detailed response.

    WhatsApp has defended the feature, stating that usernames will be optional and that users will not be searchable only through a username. The company also says users will see safety information before replying to unknown accounts, including the sender’s country and whether the account is new.

    Also read: ChatGPT Lawsuit Claims OpenAI Secretly Shared Private User Chats with Meta and Google

  • Indian Government Summons Meta Over Instagram Ads Allegedly Tied to Child Sexual Abuse Material

    Indian Government Summons Meta Over Instagram Ads Allegedly Tied to Child Sexual Abuse Material

    The Indian government has issued a summons to Meta after reports surfaced alleging that Instagram displayed advertisements linked to Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). The move underscores growing nationwide concern over platform safety and content moderation practices.

    Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has directed the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to demand an explanation from the social media giant regarding the alleged promotion of illegal material on its platform. According to government officials, Meta’s content moderation policies, ad review systems, and mechanisms to prevent the dissemination of such content will be scrutinized closely.

    The government intends to investigate the approval process for these advertisements and the detection methods in place. This development follows repeated calls from authorities for digital platforms operating in India to comply with national laws and ensure they do not host harmful or illegal content.

    Meta has not yet issued a public statement in response to the summons. The outcome of this inquiry will determine whether further legal action is taken against the company. The case highlights the ongoing debate about the responsibility of social media platforms to protect users, especially children, from exploitation and abuse.

  • Meta Tests New Instagram Controls for Personalized Algorithm Recommendations

    Meta Tests New Instagram Controls for Personalized Algorithm Recommendations

    Instagram is rolling out expanded algorithm controls that give users more say over the content recommendations they receive. The feature, part of Meta’s ‘Your Algorithm’ initiative, allows users to adjust the interests, creators, and themes that shape their feeds.

    Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, announced that the company is testing broader application of these controls beyond Reels and Explore, which were the original test grounds. Users can now edit topics they like, choose to see more from specific influencers, or filter by content type, mood, and interests—such as travel videos or fitness images—to fine-tune their experience.

    This update leverages large language models (LLMs) to categorize posts by theme, making it easier for users to modify preferences without dealing with complex algorithms. Mosseri emphasized that the goal is to empower users to control their Instagram experience, moving beyond past reliance on viewing habits.

    The move reflects a broader social media trend toward transparency and user control over algorithmic feeds, as companies face growing scrutiny over curated content. Instagram has not yet announced a global launch date, but user-driven recommendations are expected to become a key feature.