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Apple Boosts Mac Privacy Amid AI Agent Risks, Enhances Full Disk Access Controls
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Storyboard•03-10-2026, 10:01
Apple Boosts Mac Privacy Amid AI Agent Risks, Enhances Full Disk Access Controls
- •Apple plans to strengthen macOS privacy safeguards due to concerns over autonomous AI agents accessing personal data.
- •The company will introduce additional controls for its "Full Disk Access" permission, which allows applications to access sensitive information like system files, emails, messages, and browsing history.
- •Apple noted that some developers have been using Full Disk Access in ways that could expose users to risks without full understanding, and highlighted broader privacy concerns for communication apps.
- •The issue is becoming more significant as AI agents gain capabilities and autonomy, often requiring broad access to function with limited supervision.
- •Apple's planned changes aim to ensure users fully understand the implications of granting such permissions before making decisions about their data and privacy.
Key Questions Answered
Apple is planning to add more privacy safeguards to macOS, specifically introducing additional controls and requiring “very explicit user action” around its “Full Disk Access” permission.
Apple is updating the setting because increasingly autonomous AI agents require broad access to files and applications, and some developers have used Full Disk Access in ways that could expose users to risks without them fully understanding the implications.
An opt-in feature introduced for OpenAI’s ChatGPT Mac application in August requires Full Disk Access to obtain information from Apple’s Messages application so it can read, summarise, write, and send text messages on a user’s behalf.
