Apple is changing macOS privacy settings to stop app developers from misusing full-disk access to read message histories, following criticism after tech columnist Jason Aten reported Meta's AI agent Muse sent him an unsolicited notification referencing a private conversation. Meta CT O David Singleton claimed Muse could only read Messages if users manually enabled two specific permissions: full-disk access and a Messages connector setting. Security expert Patrick Wardle disputed this, stating that with full-disk access granted, any app could read messages, browsing history, and other sensitive data regardless of specific connectors.
The controversy highlights broader concerns about AI assistants gaining excessive access to personal data through calendars, emails, and messaging apps, with many comparing these capabilities to dangerous power tools. Apple's upcoming changes aim to curb potential abuse while maintaining functionality for legitimate applications.
Source: Ars Technica · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing