Apple to Strengthen Mac Privacy Controls Amid Concerns Over AI Agent Access

Apple is preparing to introduce tighter safeguards around Full Disk Access on Mac computers, following growing concerns that AI-powered agent applications could use the permission to access large amounts of sensitive information stored on users’ devices.

The company said it plans to make the process for granting Full Disk Access more explicit, requiring users to take a deliberate action after being clearly informed about the extent of access an application is seeking.

Full Disk Access allows applications to access data across a Mac that would otherwise be protected by Apple's privacy controls. The permission has traditionally been useful for applications such as backup and system-management utilities that require broad access to a computer's files.

Apple said some developers are now using the permission in ways that could expose users to privacy risks, particularly when applications are able to retrieve information without users fully understanding the scope of the access they have granted.

The company said the issue becomes particularly significant with AI agents, which can independently perform multi-step tasks and interact with information stored on a user's device.

“Full Disk Access largely sidesteps these controls in order to allow backup apps to function properly on the Mac,” Apple said, while acknowledging that some developers are using the capability in ways that could expose information across a user's system.

The company also warned that the privacy implications can extend beyond the individual using the computer. For example, if an application with broad access can read communications, the data of people communicating with that user could potentially be exposed as well.

Apple said the risks are likely to increase as AI agents become more capable and autonomous. The company said users should be given enough information about the implications of granting broad system access to make informed decisions about their data.

The issue has drawn attention amid the rapid expansion of AI agent applications, which can perform tasks on behalf of users rather than simply responding to individual prompts. Applications such as Meta's Muse have been highlighted in discussions about the extent to which such software can interact with information stored on personal devices.

The debate underscores a wider challenge for technology companies as AI agents become increasingly integrated into operating systems and everyday software. Greater autonomy can allow agents to perform useful tasks more efficiently, but it can also increase the consequences of granting an application access to sensitive files, messages and other personal information.

Apple's planned changes will therefore focus on making permission requests more visible and specific, giving Mac users a clearer indication of what they are authorising before an application receives broad access to their systems.

The company has been expanding its ecosystem and services in India as well, where digital payments and Apple's growing installed base have become important parts of its broader market strategy.