TikTok App to Stop Accessing User Clipboards After Being Caught in the Act by iOS 14

[MacRumors]

A new feature in iOS 14 alerts users when apps read the clipboard, and it turns out some apps have been reading clipboard data excessively.

Image via Jeremy Burge​

TikTok users who upgraded to iOS 14, for example, quickly noticed constant alerts warning them that TikTok was accessing the clipboard every few seconds. After being caught, TikTok now says that it's removing the feature.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1275896482433040386

In a statement to The Telegraph, TikTok said that it accessed the clipboard to identify spammy behavior.

"Following the beta release of iOS 14 on June 22, users saw notifications while using a number of popular apps.

"For TikTok, this was triggered by a feature designed to identify repetitive, spammy behavior. We have already submitted an updated version of the app to the App Store removing the anti-spam feature to eliminate any potential confusion.

"TikTok is committed to protecting users' privacy and being transparent about how our app works."

An update to remove the feature has already been submitted to the App Store, and a download of the new update confirms that TikTok no longer appears to be accessing the clipboard.

TikTok did not say whether the feature would be removed from Android devices, nor whether clipboard data was ever stored or moved from user devices. Other apps have also been called out for reading the clipboard, including Starbucks, Overstock, AccuWeather, several news apps, and more.

Prior to when iOS 14 was released, a pair of developers sounded an alarm letting users and Apple know that iPhone and iPad apps were quietly accessing the clipboard. Apple's new iOS 14 feature appears to have been added in response, and apps are no longer able to read the clipboard without users knowing exactly what's going on.

iOS 14 is limited to developers at the current time, but Apple plans to release a public beta version next month ahead of the software's fall launch. Clipboard reporting is just one of the many new privacy features in iOS 14, with a full list available in our iOS 14 roundup.

Article Link: TikTok App to Stop Accessing User Clipboards After Being Caught in the Act by iOS 14

 

[WiiDSmoker]

Exactly why I stay with Apple. Privacy is something they truly care about; to their core.

 

[zorinlynx]

If there were ever an app that needed to be booted from the app store for compromising user privacy, it's Tiktok. It's too bad it's gotten too popular and Apple can no longer give it the boot without massive backlash.

Tiktok is basically a ripoff of Vine. Why the HELL didn't Vine catch on, but Tiktok did? Sigh.

 

[now i see it]

I keep a long litany of curse words always held in my clipboard

 

[Lyoha]

If there were ever an app that needed to be booted from the app store for compromising user privacy, it's Tiktok. It's too bad it's gotten too popular and Apple can no longer give it the boot without massive backlash.

Tiktok is basically a ripoff of Vine. Why the HELL didn't Vine catch on, but Tiktok did? Sigh.

Vine did catch on but Twitter acquired and killed it

 

[casperes1996]

Well done on the title there, @jclo Love that the title points out that it's just because they were caught in the act.

 

[zorinlynx]

One question I have is why do apps have access to the clipboard AT ALL?

Shouldn't the clipboard only be used when you PASTE something? It seems absurd that there'd be an API for an app to grab the clipboard contents without permission, and yet apparently it's been the case all along.

 

[iGeneo]

Starbucks and Skype do the same

 

[boss.king]

If this was a legitimate anti-spam feature, why would they remove it? Oh, because it wasn't and TikTok is a slimey, ****** company.

 

[Apple Macintosh 128K]

Vine did catch on but Twitter acquired and killed it

Vine remained around for quite some time and died out on its own. It saw initial popularity but quickly dwindled and some time later Twitter killed it.

 

[EDP4000]

AFAIK almost every Chinese app does that, Weibo, WeChat, TikTok, Taobao... It's really great iOS has all those features.

On the other hand, Android users in China have to bear all the privacy issues all the time. Some apps even ask for permission to monitor user's phone call and texts. What if someone chooses not to give those apps the permissions? THEY STOP WORKING AND QUIT! That's insane!

 

[LeeW]

Wondering how many others are going to get caught, I suspect there are a few apps already being submitted with updates before they do.

 

[boswald]

Exactly why I stay with Apple. Privacy is something they truly care about; to their core.

Same here. I don't use any third-party apps/extensions because I don't trust anyone else.

 

[yurc]

Good Job, Apple. Stealing clipboard without user consent is no go.

 

[LeeW]

Exactly why I stay with Apple. Privacy is something they truly care about; to their core.

Well, you say that, but up until now, it's been allowed to happen.

 

[iDento]

It might be ok that you can’t justify paying premium for a tangible product that you can’t afford and think it’s financially wise to get a Chinese ripoff instead. It’s not ok with software.

 

[EDP4000]

One question I have is why do apps have access to the clipboard AT ALL?

Shouldn't the clipboard only be used when you PASTE something? It seems absurd that there'd be an API for an app to grab the clipboard contents without permission, and yet apparently it's been the case all along.

I think apps are more likely requesting to paste from clipboard every time you use it, rather than it has access to clipboard all the time.

 

[luvbug]

It's pathetic, but we really can't trust 99% of the companies out there. I guess that's why I've only installed a couple non-Apple apps, like Signal, Brave, and ProtonVPN. I start to wonder how society can survive when there's a complete lack of trust in most businesses and most institutions these days, and deservedly so.

 

[Uplift]

If this was truly a positive feature for identifying spam or whatever, they wouldn't remove it... They would educate their users about why it's needed.

They have been stealing data, end of!

 

[Abazigal]

Similar thing with iOS 13 year. Installed the beta and saw all the apps that had Bluetooth access (YouTube being one of them), who then magically removed said feature before its official release.

It’s due to bad actors like this that I don’t really begrudge Apple for managing their platform in such a heavy-handed manner. If they can’t police themselves, then Apple will.

 

[decypher44]

I would never, ever, ever, ever, EVER install TikTok.

 

[Kierkegaarden]

Exactly why I stay with Apple. Privacy is something they truly care about; to their core.

Exactly. They stress this every year, they openly talk about it, so you know they have to live up to their promises. Thank you Apple.

 

[iGeneo]

Tripit

 

[nfl46]

Lmao. Apple exposing these companies. Great job.

 

[iGeneo]

before everyone dog piles on TikTok and the "Chinese" apps... there are several other offenders