Apple to tighten Full Disk Access on Mac after AI app privacy concerns

Apple will enforce stricter controls on Full Disk Access for Mac apps after AI agents raised user data privacy issues.

Apple has announced plans to tighten controls over Full Disk Access on Mac computers following concerns about AI agent apps accessing private user data.

This decision comes after reports revealed that certain AI-driven applications, including Meta's Muse, could read extensive local data such as messages and files when granted Full Disk Access, a permission originally meant for backup and system utilities.

Apple intends to implement more explicit prompts requiring users to take deliberate actions before any app can gain this high level of access.

These new prompts will explicitly ask Mac users to confirm if they wish to grant third-party access to specific parts of their system, ensuring clearer user consent.

Apple stated, "We give developers powerful APIs to build incredible capabilities into their apps for Apple products, backed by a set of controls designed to protect users' private data. Full Disk Access largely sidesteps these controls in order to allow backup apps to function properly on the Mac."

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company warned that some developers misuse Full Disk Access, potentially exposing all data on users' systems without their full awareness.

It added, "For communication apps, this can also compromise the privacy of the people users are communicating with."

Apple highlighted that as AI agents become more capable and autonomous, the risks linked to full disk access are expected to increase significantly.

"We are committed to ensuring users clearly understand these risks before granting such access, so they can make informed decisions about their own data and privacy," the firm said.

Meta's Muse AI agent alone has surpassed five million downloads recently, with users raising concerns about its ability to perform complex tasks while accessing messages they considered private.

Apple's move comes at a time when the company has been strengthening its ecosystem in India, a market where Unified Payments Interface (UPI) dominates over 80 percent of digital payment volume.