Apple is introducing additional controls around Full Disk Access on macOS, a setting originally designed to support backups, saying AI agents have increased the risks tied to that level of access. The change is aimed at ensuring informed consent rather than placing new limits on the permission.
The move follows a report by Inc. columnist Jason Aten, who said Meta’s Muse app on Mac knew the contents of his private messages despite his claim that he had not granted permission, an account Meta has disputed. A separate Wired report found that a flaw in ChatGPT’s Mac app could have exposed sensitive data to hackers. Together, the incidents have raised questions about how much users can trust desktop AI agents that control systems and read personal files.
Full Disk Access gives apps permission to reach files, mail, messages and browsing history. In a developer blog post, Apple said some developers are using it in ways that could expose everything on users’ systems without their full knowledge.
Apple said users who genuinely want to grant this extraordinary level of access will need to take very explicit action. The company warned that the risks will grow substantially as AI agents become more capable and autonomous, and said it is committed to helping users understand those risks before making decisions about their data and privacy.
