Apple has announced an upcoming update to its macOS security protocols that will limit how applications can request and utilize 'Full Disk Access.' This feature, which currently allows an app to read almost all files on a user's computer, will now be subject to more rigorous verification requirements. Apple stated that these changes are designed to ensure that users who choose to grant this high level of access do so only through clear, intentional actions, rather than accidental or obscured permissions.

This policy shift follows recent public scrutiny regarding how AI agents interact with private user data. The conversation was sparked by reports, including an account from Inc’s Jason Aten, who noted that Meta’s Muse AI appeared to have knowledge of his private messages despite him not granting the application explicit permission to access them. While Apple is positioning this as a proactive security measure to address the risks inherent in AI agents, the company has not provided a specific timeline for when these new controls will be fully integrated into the operating system. Meta has disputed the claims regarding its AI's unauthorized access, with spokesperson Andy Stone pushing back against the suggestion that the software bypassed user privacy settings.