Apple said in a developer news post dated 2 October 2026 that it will introduce additional controls for Full Disk Access on the Mac. Apple said the permission largely sidesteps the controls that normally protect private data. It exists so backup apps can work properly. Apple said some developers use it in ways that could put users at risk, exposing files, mail, messages and browsing history without users' full knowledge. It said communication apps can also compromise the privacy of the people users talk to. Apple said users who truly want to grant this "extraordinary level of access" should only be able to do so with very explicit user action.
Apple's post leaves much open. It does not describe what the new controls are or how they will work. It names no macOS version and gives no date. It names no apps or developers and does not say how many are affected. It also does not say whether apps other than backup tools will lose access. Apple did say the risks of this access will grow substantially as AI agents become more capable and autonomous.
Apple's own account is that this permission bypasses normal data controls, and it links the risk to AI agents. Teams that build or buy Mac software can ask which of their tools hold Full Disk Access today, and whether each one needs it. That second step is our suggestion, not Apple's.