Is TikTok copying your clipboard?

A new privacy feature in iOS 14 has revealed that TikTok is copying the contents of your clipboard with every keystroke.

What data does TikTok store?

Because TikTok is not being specific about which data is going where, Fielding says you “have to assume it could be anything”. This could potentially include your profile information and content you create even if you don’t share it with TikTok, contents of the clipboard, and typing patterns.

Why is clipboard reading important?

In some cases, clipboard reading can make apps much more useful. The UPS iPhone app, for instance, pulls text from the clipboard, and, in the event the text matches the characteristics of a tracking number, the app prompts the user to track the corresponding package.

What are TikTok's new paste notifications?

The new feature – called paste notifications – shows that TikTok is inspecting the clipboard with each new keystroke, and it’s possible that they’re also grabbing the contents and storing it for later to be sent off with the other information that TikTok phones home with.