Apple says it’s tightening macOS ‘Full Disk Access’ controls due to new risks from AI agents

Apple announced it is tightening controls for a macOS setting known as Full Disk Access. The company stated that artificial intelligence agents have increased risks related to this permission level. Full Disk Access lets an app view files, mail, messages, and browsing history. Apple explained in a blog post that some developers use this access in ways that can expose all system data without a user's full knowledge.

The announcement followed recent security reports involving desktop AI tools. Inc. columnist Jason Aten reported that Meta's Muse app read his private messages, a claim Meta disputed. Additionally, a Wired report noted that a flaw in the ChatGPT Mac app could have let hackers reach sensitive data. Moving forward, Apple plans to introduce new controls to ensure that users who want to grant this level of access must take very explicit actions.

Apple stated that addressing this issue is critical because AI agents are becoming more capable and autonomous. The company aims to make sure users understand the risks before granting system access. Apple did not respond to inquiries about the feature change.