In July, Meta launched an AI feature allowing Instagram users to generate images using public accounts' likenesses, but enabled it by default so users had to actively opt out. Creators and users quickly voiced frustration, posting videos on how to disable the feature. Within three days, Meta acknowledged the approach had "missed the mark" and reversed the setting. The incident exposed a widespread industry practice where tech companies enable new AI tools and data-collection features automatically, expecting users to discover and disable them rather than opting in consciously.

Privacy researchers argue this pattern reflects a troubling default across Silicon Valley. They note that users typically retain whatever settings companies preset, meaning opt-out systems inherently favor data collection. Some experts point to the European Union's GDPR framework as a model, which requires companies to make privacy-protective options the default and obtain affirmative consent before using personal data. Without comparable US regulation, analysts warn that companies will continue placing the burden of privacy protection on individual users, requiring them to repeatedly dig through settings to disable unwanted features.