Meta's new 'creative' AI tool might be quietly uploading your private photos

Meta is testing a new AI feature that taps directly into users' camera rolls to suggest creative photo edits, collages, and recaps — a move that has raised fresh privacy concerns.
How it works:
Meta's position:
Why it matters
The feature effectively grants Meta access to users' private, offline photo libraries — expanding its reach beyond publicly shared data like posts and comments. Privacy advocates warn it could mark a turning point in how personal data is fed into generative AI systems.
The risks
What users are saying
Some users have already encountered the feature and expressed confusion online, posting screenshots and asking how to stop the uploads. The opt-in prompt appears while users are about to post a Story — a moment designed for quick taps rather than deep reading.
Where it's rolling out
Meta is currently testing the feature in select markets, including the US and Canada, before a potential broader rollout. Company insiders and industry analysts expect that, if the trial proves successful, it could be expanded globally within months as part of Meta's wider push to embed AI across Facebook and Instagram.
Meta's new camera roll AI test could make sharing easier — but at a high privacy cost. Experts warn it's another step toward normalizing the continuous feeding of personal data into corporate AI systems, one "Allow" button at a time.
Meta / Meta AI / Facebook / privacy terms / privacy