send_message

SERVERLocal SOURCElocal-mcp

Medium RISK CLASS

Category Write

Parameters 32 required

Recommended Rate-limitedsee the rule below

Registry record Grade F, identity unverified Pull the record →

This record as markdown: /tools/com-local-mcp-local-mcp/send-message.md

WHAT IT DOES

What send_message does on Local

AI agents use send_message to create or update resources in Local, usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Local environment.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`to`	string	Yes	Recipient handle: phone number with country code (+14155551234) or Apple ID email.
`text`	string	Yes	Message body to send.
`confirm`	boolean	—	Set true to actually send. Without it, returns a preview only.

Parameters from the server's own tool schema.

RISK

Why send_message is rated Medium

The tool creates and sends a message, which is a reversible write operation that modifies state (adds a message to an existing communication channel). It does not irreversibly delete data (Destructive), execute arbitrary code (Execute), move money (Financial), or read-only retrieve data (Read).

From the tool's definition Sends an iMessage via the Mac's Messages.app to a recipient handle (phone number with country code, e.g. +14155551234, or an Apple ID email).

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs send_message safely

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Local, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For send_message, this is the rule to start with:

send_message Rate-limited

send_message stays usable, but capped: an agent stuck in a loop can't make hundreds of changes a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "send_message": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "send_message_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

LIMIT THIS TOOL → Instant setup, no code required.

The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Local, apply this rule, and every send_message call is checked against it from then on.

FAQ

Questions about send_message

What does the send_message tool do? +

Sends an iMessage via the Mac's Messages.app to a recipient handle (phone number with country code, e.g. +14155551234, or an Apple ID email). This is a write operation: the first call (without confirm) returns a preview; call again with confirm=true to actually send. Direct (1:1) iMessage only — sending into an existing group chat isn't supported yet. Requires Messages.app signed in to iMessage + Automation permission. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Local MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

What parameters does send_message accept? +

send_message accepts 3 parameters: to, text, confirm. Required: to, text. The full parameter table on this page comes from the server's own tool schema.

How do I enforce a policy on send_message? +

Register the Local MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for send_message: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Local. Nothing to install.

What risk level is send_message? +

send_message is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.

Can I rate-limit send_message? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the send_message rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.

How do I block send_message completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for send_message. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.

What MCP server provides send_message? +

send_message is provided by the Local MCP server (local-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

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