Apple will strengthen Mac privacy controls to warn of rising risks from AI agents

Apple said on Oct. 4 that it plans to roll out new privacy controls for Mac users and warned of rising risks from granting broad data access to third-party software, including AI agents. The iPhone maker said in a statement Friday that it would introduce additional controls to ensure that users who want to grant an app "full disk access"-that is, full access to system files, mail, messages and browsing history-can do so only through "very explicit user actions." Apple said: "We are committed to ensuring that users understand these risks clearly before granting such access, so that they can make informed decisions about their data and privacy." Apple did not name specific programs or developers in its statement, but said that as "AI agents continue to grow in power and autonomy,""the risks associated with this level of access will rise significantly."