Updates to Full Disk Access in macOS
Points and comments are a snapshot, not live.
Apple plans tighter Full Disk Access controls citing risks as AI agents grow more autonomous.
Apple announced upcoming additional controls for Full Disk Access on macOS. The feature was designed to let backup apps bypass privacy safeguards, but some developers use it in ways that expose all user data-files, mail, messages, browsing history-without users' full understanding. Apple states the risk grows substantially as AI agents become more capable and autonomous, and it is committed to ensuring users explicitly understand risks before granting such access.
What commenters are saying
Commenters split between those welcoming tighter controls and those fearing more permission prompts that make macOS "almost unusable." Some critique Apple's framing, noting Terminal is a classic FDA use case, not backups. Others argue people who blindly grant FDA to an AI agent "simply cannot be helped" without removing freedom. Several question why Spotify and Gemini had FDA enabled on their systems. One raised concern that terminal FDA grants arbitrary scripts the same access.