Apple has announced additional controls for the Full Disk Access permission in macOS. This permission was originally needed by software such as backup tools, but it largely bypasses standard privacy protections and can expose files, email, messages, and browsing history to an app.
The company says some developers are using this level of access in ways users may not fully understand. Future changes will therefore require a very explicit and intentional user action before an app receives such broad privileges. Apple has not yet identified the macOS version or a release date for the new controls.
The change matters more as AI agents become increasingly capable. Software that can process private information, take actions, and communicate with external services creates a much larger risk when it can also read an entire disk. The practical takeaway is straightforward: users should grant Full Disk Access only to applications they fully trust and only when that access is genuinely necessary.