#Alert: TikTok reads the content of clipboard on iPhones

According to a report in The Telegraph, a number of users who installed the first iOS 14 beta were alerted about TikTok repeatedly accessing the content of their clipboard.

They found that the video-sharing service was copying and pasting content after every 2-3 keystrokes. Many even demonstrated the access through videos, highlighting how frequently iOS was alerting about the app's access to the clipboard.

As the issue surfaced, users took it to Twitter, criticizing TikTok and calling the matter a huge invasion of privacy and data theft.

Clipboards, as many know, temporarily store text that has been copied or pasted and can often host confidential information like usernames and passwords, among other things.

Notably, other apps were also accessing clipboards but not that frequently.

As the issue surfaced, TikTok clarified its stance on the matter and said it is making changes to prevent clipboard access.

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

While the iOS version of TikTok should be fixed, there is no clarity over the case of the Android version, which has also been spotted accessing clipboard in the past.

Also, running into issues like these does not help the company's case, which has been battling several controversies including blocking content critical of the Chinese government and allowing misogynistic videos, among other things.