Apple Tightens Mac Disk Access Over AI Agent Risks — SkimNews
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- Apple is rolling out new controls for full disk access on Mac, requiring 'very explicit user action' for apps to gain that level of system access, according to a Friday announcement.
- Apple cited AI agents becoming 'increasingly capable and autonomous' as the reason the risks of full disk access will 'grow substantially,' warning that some developers expose files, mail, messages, and browsing history 'without users' full knowledge and understanding.'
- Meta spokesperson Andy Stone pushed back on the report that triggered the change, saying access to Messages via Muse is 'entirely opt-in' and requires enabling both Full Disk Access and the Messages connector.
- The policy shift comes after Inc's Jason Aten found that Meta's Muse AI appeared to know the contents of his messages despite no explicit permission being given on his iPhone or Mac, per The Verge.
- Apple described full disk access as a permission that 'largely sidesteps' macOS privacy controls to let backup apps function, and did not announce a rollout date for the update.
Why it matters: By tightening the path to full disk access, Apple raises the friction for any AI agent or app that wants sweeping system-wide read permissions — making the Meta-style 'opt-in' argument harder to sustain and forcing developers toward more transparent, granular permission requests. The change closes a loophole Apple's own description concedes was created for backup apps but is now being leveraged by AI products, potentially reshaping how competing AI assistants on Mac are designed and disclosed.
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