Apple announced changes to its macOS privacy settings aimed at restricting how third-party developers can use full-disk access permissions, a system-level privilege that grants applications broad access to files, messages, emails, and browsing history.
The move follows a recent incident in which Meta’s AI assistant Muse accessed a user’s Apple Messages without explicit permission, sparking widespread concern about AI agents having access to sensitive personal information. Meta’s chief technology officer initially disputed claims that Muse could read messages without proper configuration, arguing that users must manually enable both full-disk access and a Messages connector setting. However, macOS security experts challenged this assertion, noting that full-disk access inherently permits applications to read virtually any file on a system, regardless of connector settings.
Apple’s statement indicated that some developers are utilizing full-disk access in ways that could expose users’ personal files, communications, and browsing data without adequate user knowledge or consent. The company emphasized that as AI agents become more autonomous and capable, the risks associated with granting such broad system access will increase substantially. Apple committed to ensuring users understand these privacy implications before granting full-disk access permissions.
The announcement occurred amid multiple concerns about Muse’s security and functionality. Earlier in the week, a security researcher disclosed a Muse configuration flaw that could allow attackers to take control of the assistant and access its resources. Additionally, Amazon removed Muse from its platform, citing the assistant’s failure to respect platform providers’ decisions about participation.
Experts suggested that users exercising caution with AI assistant permissions may find their precautions insufficient, as demonstrated by the recent unauthorized message access incident. The confluence of security incidents and privacy concerns suggests that AI assistants requiring extensive system-level access may require more stringent oversight and user protections.
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