Overview
- This week Apple told developers it will change the macOS Full Disk Access flow so apps can get that level of permission only after a “very explicit user action.”
- Full Disk Access is a macOS permission that lets apps read wide-ranging local data such as emails, private messages, browser history and files and was originally created for backups and utility tools.
- Apple framed the move as a response to the growing power and autonomy of AI agents and said the change is intended to make users clearly understand the risks before granting deep device access.
- The announcement follows recent reports that AI agents may have read private Mac content, including a disputed claim that Meta’s Muse accessed a columnist’s messages; Meta denies that happened and says users must enable both Full Disk Access and a Messages connector.
- Apple gave no technical details or rollout timing for the new controls, and it emphasized that its own AI-enhanced Siri processes data on-device or with end-to-end encryption and is currently limited in language and region availability.