Meta is refuting claims that its AI assistant Muse accessed users' private messages without their consent.
The company asserts that the Messages integration in the Muse app for Mac is entirely opt-in, requiring users to enable both Full Disk Access and the Messages connector for the app to read their messages.
According to Meta VP of Communications Andy Stone, the app cannot access private messages unless these permissions are explicitly granted.
Stone emphasized that the app’s design includes multiple layers of user consent and system-level protections. He pointed out that Full Disk Access must be enabled, which triggers a manual confirmation in the macOS Settings interface and a full restart of the Muse app, making accidental access highly unlikely.
Meta Superintelligence Labs executive David Singleton added that the process involves three separate steps of application-level permissions and built-in macOS protections. He explained that even if there was a bug in the Muse app, the system-level safeguards would prevent unauthorized access to private messages.
"You have to enable both Full Disk Access and the Messages connector for Muse to be able to read your Messages content," Stone wrote on X, clarifying that the app cannot read messages unless users explicitly grant these permissions.
Singleton also disputed a claim that Muse passed along the text of incoming notifications, stating that the AI provided an incorrect explanation.
The controversy follows a recent report by Inc. columnist Jason Aten, who alleged that Muse accessed his messages without permission. Aten claimed that when he asked Muse to explain how this occurred, the AI said it was syncing his device notifications, which he interpreted as sharing message content. Singleton, however, suggested the AI was confused and gave an incorrect explanation.
Meta did not confirm whether Muse could have accessed messages without permission, and the company is investigating other user reports of potential misuse. The outcome of these investigations may influence consumer trust in Muse, which remains No. 1 on the App Store but faces reputational risks if further allegations emerge.
Source: techcrunch
