Apple is introducing stricter controls for macOS applications that request "full disk access," a move the company states is driven by the growing risks associated with autonomous AI agents. The update aims to ensure that users must take very explicit action before granting an app this sweeping level of system access.
What Happened
In an update released on Friday, Apple announced new controls designed to restrict how developers utilize the full disk access permission on Mac. The company stated that some developers are using this feature in ways that could expose everything on a user's system—including files, mail, messages, and browsing history—without the user's full knowledge or understanding. Apple noted that as AI agents become increasingly capable and autonomous, the risks associated with this level of access will "grow substantially." The new policy ensures that users who genuinely wish to grant an app this "extraordinary level of access" will need to do so through very explicit user action. Currently, full disk access largely bypasses standard privacy controls to allow backup applications to function properly.
Why It Matters
This shift in policy follows recent scrutiny regarding how AI tools interact with personal data. It comes weeks after reports indicated that Meta’s Muse AI accessed the contents of a user's messages despite the user not giving the chatbot explicit permission on their iPhone or Mac. While Meta spokesperson Andy Stone pushed back on those reports, stating that access to Messages is "entirely opt-in" and requires enabling both Full Disk Access and the Messages connector, Apple’s new guidelines signal a tighter stance on how this permission is granted. For the broader AI industry, this marks a significant constraint on the autonomy of desktop agents, potentially limiting their ability to operate seamlessly across a user's entire file system without repeated, high-friction consent.
The Bottom Line
Apple has not yet provided a specific timeline for when the updated full disk access controls will be rolled out to Mac users. The company did not immediately respond to requests for further comment on the implementation details.