Meta disputes claim that Muse read a user’s private messages without permission

Meta is disputing a journalist's claim that its AI agent Muse read a user's private messages without permission. Meta VP of Communications Andy Stone confirmed on X that the Messages integration in the Muse app for Mac is entirely opt-in. To enable Muse to read Messages content, users must first enable Full Disk Access and the Messages connector.

Stone emphasized that Muse cannot read Messages content without the user's consent. Despite Meta's denial, some remain skeptical of the company's claims, considering its history of mishandling consumer data, which has led to lawsuits, FTC violations, and fines. A New Mexico jury recently found Meta had misled users about its data practices following the 2018 Cambridge Analytica data breach.

Whether users can trust Muse will be key to Meta's success in the consumer AI market. While the app is currently popular, Meta's reputation could suffer if more reports like this emerge, whether true or not. Meta's response to the claim involves a technical explanation of the permissions required to grant Muse access to Messages.

According to Meta Superintelligence Labs executive David Singleton, the process involves three separate steps of application-level permissions and built-in macOS system-level protections. These include explicitly granting Muse Full Disk Access and confirming the choice in macOS Settings, which restarts the Muse app to ensure the user's knowledge.

Singleton also disputed a claim by journalist Jason Aten that Muse read his messages without permission, stating that the AI was confused and provided an incorrect explanation. The company's response suggests that what Aten experienced did not and could not have occurred. However, this is not the only alleged overstep by Muse, and Meta must address these concerns to maintain consumer trust.