Days after a journalist claimed that Meta’s Muse app on the Mac read private messages (a claim Meta disputed), Apple announced it was introducing additional controls around a setting in macOS called “Full Disk Access.” While the feature is designed to allow backups to function properly, Apple said the AI agent increases “the risks associated with this level of access.”
Apple’s statement comes shortly after Inc. columnist Jason Aten reported that Muse knew the contents of his private messages, even though he claimed he had not given permission to the AI agent. The report raised questions about users’ level of security and trust in desktop-based AI that can control things on their systems and read files and messages.
The decision to limit Mac functionality also comes after a Wired report cited a flaw in ChatGPT’s Mac app that may have allowed hackers to access sensitive data.
With AI agents running on the desktop, users can adjust macOS settings to give apps more access to files, messages, and other personal content on their computers.
For Muse, AI optionally allows users to enable full disk access. According to Apple, this setting gives apps permission to access your files, emails, messages, and even your browsing history.
“Some developers are using full disk access in ways that can put users at risk, exposing everything on their systems…without their full knowledge and understanding,” Apple said in a new blog post for developers.
The company says it will now introduce new controls aimed at ensuring that users who “really want this extraordinary level of access to their apps” can only do so with “very explicit user action.”
“It’s important to address this. As AI agents become increasingly competent and autonomous, the risks associated with this level of access will increase significantly. We are committed to ensuring that users clearly understand these risks before granting such access, and that they can make informed decisions about their data and privacy,” Apple wrote.
Apple did not respond to TechCrunch’s inquiries regarding this feature change.
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