Apple has announced it will introduce additional controls for the “Full Disk Access” setting on macOS. The company stated that while the feature was originally designed for backups, the capabilities of AI agents have increased the associated risks.
This decision follows a journalist's claim that Meta’s Muse app on Mac accessed private messages, a claim Meta disputed. Apple noted that AI agents running on desktops can be given broad access to files, messages, and other personal content by adjusting macOS settings.
Apple stated in a blog post for developers that some developers are using Full Disk Access in ways that could expose everything on users' systems without their full knowledge. The company aims to ensure that users who wish to grant this level of access do so with “very explicit user action.”
Apple emphasised the criticality of addressing this issue, stating that as AI agents become more capable, the risks associated with broad access will grow. The company is committed to ensuring users understand these risks to make informed decisions about their data and privacy.