Today’s Thursday technology lesson looks at AI image tools, public profile photos, privacy controls, and the language used when campaigners challenge platform design choices.
Title: Outcry as Meta lets users make AI images from public Instagram profile pics
Source: BBC News
Published: July 8, 2026
Original article: BBC News article link
BBC News reports that Meta is facing criticism over Muse Image, an AI image tool that can generate pictures using other people’s public Instagram profile photos. Meta says users can opt out, but privacy campaigners argue that the feature creates new risks around image manipulation and consent.
The article says the tool is available through Meta AI, WhatsApp, Instagram Stories and a web browser for US users. It also notes wider concern from regulators and rights groups about AI-generated images, especially when real people are pulled into altered pictures without clear permission.
BBC News 報導，Meta 因其 AI 圖像工具 Muse Image 受到批評；這項工具可以使用他人的公開 Instagram 個人照片來生成圖片。Meta 表示使用者可以選擇退出，但隱私倡議者認為，這項功能在圖像操弄與同意權方面帶來新的風險。
文章指出，這項工具目前可透過 Meta AI、WhatsApp、Instagram Stories 與網頁瀏覽器提供給美國使用者。報導也提到，監管機構與權利團體對 AI 生成圖片越來越擔心，特別是當真實人物在沒有清楚許可下被放入改造後的圖片時。
a strong negative public reaction to a decision, policy, product, or event.
In article: “Meta is facing a backlash over its new AI tool Muse Image, which can generate pictures using other people’s profile pictures without telling them.”
強烈反彈；大眾對某項決定、政策、產品或事件的負面回應。
public support or organized action for a cause, policy, or group of people.
In article: “Donald Campbell, advocacy director at tech justice non-profit Foxglove told the BBC it was an ‘obvious recipe for disaster’.”
倡議、倡導；為某個理念、政策或群體進行公開支持或組織行動。
clear permission for something to happen, especially after someone understands what is being agreed to.
In article: “Pulling real users into generated photos without explicit consent is a privacy landmine waiting to detonate.”
同意、許可；在了解情況後明確允許某件事發生，常見於法律、醫療與隱私語境。
careful and often critical examination by the public, media, regulators, or experts.
In article: “The feature is likely to face heightened scrutiny as regulators and campaigners raise concerns about AI-generated images.”
審視、仔細檢查；通常指媒體、公眾、監管機構或專家帶有批判性的檢視。
making an action or process easier or more likely to happen; often used formally when discussing responsibility for enabling harm.
In article: “It is hard to see why Mark Zuckerberg thinks facilitating yet more of this creepy image manipulation is a good idea.”
促成、使便利；讓某個行動或過程更容易發生，在討論平台是否助長問題時常帶有正式或批判語氣。
Usage note: This is today’s stretch word. In policy and technology reporting, facilitating can imply that a system helped make a harmful action possible, even if it did not directly perform the action.