Apple says it will add stronger consent controls for apps seeking Full Disk Access (FDA), a broad macOS permission that can expose files, mail, messages and browsing history. The announcement followed a dispute over whether Meta’s Muse Mac app accessed a journalist’s private messages without permission, but Apple did not name Muse or say the dispute prompted the change. The new controls are not available yet; Apple has not announced their design or release date.
What Apple announced about Full Disk Access
In an October 2, 2026 developer-news post, Apple said it plans to add controls so users must take “very explicit user action” to grant an app Full Disk Access. Apple describes FDA as a permission that largely sidesteps other macOS privacy controls, which can help backup apps do their jobs but can also expose a wide range of personal data.
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Apple specifically warns that access may include files, mail, messages and browsing history. For communication apps, access to messages can also affect the privacy of the people users communicate with. Apple says increasingly capable and autonomous AI agents make the risks more significant.
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What Full Disk Access does on a Mac
Full Disk Access is a broad system permission, not an app-specific message connector or a guarantee that an app will misuse data. Apple’s Platform Security guide says that on macOS 10.13 or later, apps needing access to the full storage device must be explicitly added to the relevant settings. On macOS 13 or later, this is managed in System Settings; on macOS 12 or earlier, it is managed in System Preferences. macOS also has separate controls for areas such as files and folders, accessibility and automation.
In other words, the system-level permission can be broader than the feature a user intends to use. An app may also have its own opt-in setting for a particular integration. Those are separate layers of approval; the existence of one does not establish that the other is enabled.
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What happened in the Meta Muse dispute
TechCrunch reported on September 30, 2026, that journalist Jason Aten said Muse appeared to know the contents of his private messages even though he believed he had not authorized access. Meta disputed that account. The available reporting does not independently establish which permissions were active during the incident, so it does not prove that Muse bypassed macOS protections.
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Meta vice president of communications Andy Stone said, “The Messages integration in the Muse app for Mac is entirely opt-in.” Stone said users must enable both Full Disk Access and Muse’s Messages connector. Meta executive David Singleton described additional steps, including selecting the Messages access level in Muse and confirming the system setting; he said Muse cannot read Messages unless both the system permission and connector are enabled. Meta also said Aten’s account did not describe what happened and suggested Muse had given him a mistaken explanation. These are Meta’s responses, not an independent finding about the disputed incident.
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- ALWAYS MAKE THE SAVE: Compact design with massive capacity; With capacities up to 4TB, save exactly what you need to your drive – from large working files to game data and everything in between
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Apple’s announcement came shortly after the report and addresses the possibility that developers’ use of Full Disk Access could expose messages and other data. The timing makes a connection plausible, but Apple did not name Meta, Muse or Aten, or say the incident was its reason for changing the controls. Treating the dispute as the confirmed cause would go beyond what the companies and reporting establish.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What Mac users can do now
Apple’s planned controls have not shipped, so users cannot enable them today. To review existing Full Disk Access permissions, open System Settings on macOS 13 or later, then go to Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access. On macOS 12 or earlier, open System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy, then select Full Disk Access.
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- Review which apps are listed and whether each still needs broad access for a feature you use.
- Turn off access for an app you no longer trust or need. A feature that depends on it, such as a backup function, may stop working.
- Check an app’s own connector or integration settings separately; disabling a feature-specific connector and revoking system-level access are distinct actions.
These steps describe the existing macOS controls in Apple’s security guide; they are not the new consent flow Apple has promised.
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