Apple To Tighten Mac Data Controls Amid Growing AI Agent Privacy Risks

Apple plans to introduce additional privacy controls for Mac computers to make it harder for third-party applications, including artificial intelligence agents, to gain broad access to users’ personal data. The company said users who choose to grant apps ‘Full Disk Access’ will need to take more explicit action before giving them access to sensitive information such as files, mail, messages and browsing history.

Apple Targets ‘Full Disk Access’

Apple said the changes are aimed at addressing the risks created by applications that receive extensive access to data stored on a Mac.

The Full Disk Access permission is designed for legitimate uses, including backup software that needs to examine files across a computer. However, Apple said some developers are using the permission in ways that could expose large amounts of personal information without users fully understanding the implications. Apple Develops Custom AI Model for China With Alibaba Support Ahead of Apple Intelligence Launch.

The company said it will introduce additional controls so that users who genuinely want to provide such access can do so only through ‘very explicit user action’.

Apple has not specified exactly how the new controls will work or when they will be rolled out.

Growing Concern Over AI Agents

The move comes as AI agents become increasingly capable of performing tasks on behalf of users with limited human supervision.

Unlike conventional chatbot applications, AI agents can interact with files, applications and other services to complete tasks. That can require access to large amounts of information stored on a user's computer. Apple Smart Home Device Launch Set for October 13: Report.

Apple said the risks associated with broad permissions are expected to increase as AI agents become more capable and autonomous. The company said users should clearly understand the privacy implications before allowing an application to access their data.

OpenAI said earlier this week that more than 35 million people use its agent tools, ChatGPT Work and Codex, up from 10 million in July, according to Bloomberg. Meta's Muse has also gained attention since its launch as an AI agent capable of performing tasks on behalf of users.

Meta’s Muse Raises Privacy Questions

Apple's announcement follows recent concerns surrounding Meta's Muse and its access to data on Mac computers.

Technology columnist Jason Aten alleged that Muse was able to access private messages on his Mac despite his claim that he had not authorised such access. Meta disputed the allegation, saying Muse can access Messages only when users enable both Full Disk Access and the Messages connector.

The dispute highlighted the broader issue of how much access AI agents should have to personal information when operating directly on a user's computer.

Apple did not identify Meta or any other specific developer in its announcement.

Why Mac Permissions Matter

Mac computers differ from Apple's iPhone and iPad platforms in how applications can access information belonging to other apps.

On iPhones and iPads, application sandboxing generally prevents one app from accessing another app's data without specific mechanisms or permissions. Macs offer greater flexibility for applications that require access across the system.

Full Disk Access is one of the broadest permissions available in macOS. Once granted, it can provide access to information that would otherwise be protected by the operating system's privacy controls, including files, emails, messages and browsing history.

Apple said this can also affect the privacy of other people whose communications are stored on the user's computer.

Broader Shift in AI Privacy

The planned changes reflect a growing challenge for technology companies as AI applications move beyond answering questions and begin interacting directly with users' devices.

For AI agents to perform tasks such as managing messages, files or other applications, they may need permissions that traditional software did not require. That creates a balance between functionality and privacy, particularly when a single permission can expose large amounts of personal information.

Apple's planned controls are intended to make that decision more deliberate. The company said its goal is to ensure users understand the risks before granting applications extensive access to their data.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 04, 2026 07:37 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).