Apple to Flag AI Apps Seeking Broad Mac Data Access After Meta Muse Complaints

Apple is planning changes to macOS to give users clearer warnings when artificial intelligence applications or agents seek access to large amounts of data stored on their Mac computers. The move comes after concerns were raised about Meta’s Muse AI agent and the way it could access users’ information. Apple said some AI applications are using the Mac’s existing privacy permissions to obtain broad access to files and other information. The company is now working on additional safeguards that would require users to take more explicit action before granting applications access to sensitive data.

The issue centres on macOS’s Full Disk Access permission. The feature allows an application to access data across a computer after the user grants permission. While the setting can be useful for applications that need extensive system access, Apple has expressed concern about how increasingly autonomous AI agents could use such permissions.

The company’s planned changes are intended to make users more aware when an AI agent requests extensive access to their computers. Apple said the additional controls would help users make more informed decisions before allowing applications to interact with large amounts of personal information.

The developments follow complaints involving Meta’s Muse, an AI agent designed to work with information on users’ computers. Some users alleged that Muse could access private messages without their permission, raising concerns over the privacy implications of AI systems that can perform tasks across different applications.

Meta has rejected those claims. The company said Muse cannot access Messages content unless users specifically provide the necessary permissions. According to Meta, users must enable both Full Disk Access and the Messages connector before Muse can read information from Apple’s Messages application. Apple’s planned changes are expected to give users greater visibility into such requests and add another layer of control over how AI applications access information stored on Mac computers.