Meta Denies Muse AI Read User Messages Without Consent

Meta Platforms Inc. is disputing a claim that its Muse AI product read a user’s messages without consent, saying the feature cannot access Messages unless the user grants two separate permissions. Communications chief Andy Stone said the settings remain under user control.

The response came after a journalist reported that Muse appeared to sync his texts despite his privacy settings. Meta’s rebuttal centers on the company’s permission architecture, which it says is designed to prevent unauthorized access to private communications.

The issue lands at a sensitive moment for large technology companies rolling out AI tools that rely on deeper device integration. As consumers become more alert to data collection practices, even a single allegation of overreach can intensify scrutiny of how AI systems request, store and process personal information.

For crypto and broader digital-asset markets, the immediate impact is indirect. Still, privacy controversies at major platforms can influence investor sentiment around data governance, AI infrastructure and the regulatory environment that increasingly shapes software and platform risk.