Apple to Flag AI Requests for Mac Data After Muse Complaints
Apple will add new controls to macOS Full Disk Access due to AI agent risks.
"Apple's locking down Mac data from AI agents. Your privacy just got an upgrade, but AI apps might need to play by new rules."
Apple is tightening macOS 'Full Disk Access' controls in response to new risks posed by AI agents. This decision follows complaints regarding Meta's Muse app, which a journalist claimed accessed private messages. Apple stated that increasingly capable AI agents make broad access to users' files, messages, mail, and browsing history riskier, leading to the implementation of new controls.
The 'Full Disk Access' feature was originally designed for backups, but Apple now warns that some developers are using it in ways that could expose user data without full knowledge. The company will introduce new controls to ensure that users who wish to grant this level of access do so with 'very explicit user action.' This move aims to address concerns about the security and trust users place in desktop-based AI applications.
Apple emphasized that as AI agents become more capable and autonomous, the risks associated with broad data access will grow substantially. The company is committed to ensuring users clearly understand these risks to make informed decisions about their data and privacy. This change comes after reports, including one from Inc. columnist Jason Aten, highlighted potential privacy issues with AI agents accessing personal information.
Business owners and executives should be aware of tightening data access controls on major operating systems. This change highlights the growing scrutiny on AI agents' access to sensitive user data, potentially impacting how AI-powered tools integrate with user systems and handle privacy.
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