GoKawiilApple removes user's Apple Intelligence opt-out after macOS 27 upgrade
A user who had disabled Apple Intelligence and Siri data-sharing features in macOS 15 found that upgrading to macOS 27 silently re-enabled these settings, removing the toggle that previously let them turn the feature off entirely. They also discovered Siri processes still running in the background, hidden opt-out controls buried under Screen Time parental restrictions, and 22.28 GB of storage consumed by Apple Intelligence components they never asked for.
This incident highlights a growing pattern of tech companies quietly re-enabling AI features during software updates, undermining explicit user choices and raising serious consent concerns. It also has real costs for users, both in lost storage space on premium-priced devices and in eroded trust that privacy settings will persist across updates.
- macOS 27 upgrade reset previously disabled Apple Intelligence and Siri settings without user consent.
- Background Siri processes reportedly continue running even after being toggled off in settings.
- Apple Intelligence components consumed 22.28 GB of disk space on a device where the storage costs users roughly £11 per GB.
Objective-See Little Snitch (macOS) — If Apple's own privacy toggles keep disappearing, Little Snitch lets you see and block exactly what's phoning home from your Mac, including background Siri and Apple Intelligence processes. It's a great way to take back control over your network traffic when the OS won't let you opt out cleanly.”
See Objective-See Little Snitch (macOS) on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: news.ycombinator.com — David Bushell, 2026-09-22
Published there as: “I said no and Apple said yes”
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