LinkedIn plans to prevent its app from repeatedly copying the clipboard content of an iOS device, after a user highlighted the seemingly invasive practice of privacy earlier this week. ZDNet reports that LinkedIn called the behavior an error.
The app copies the contents of the clipboard to perform a “equality check” between what a user is typing and what’s on their clipboard, according to LinkedIn vice president of engineering Erran Berger. Berger did not say why this check was necessary. “We do not store or transmit the contents of the clipboard,” Berger wrote on Twitter.
The behavior was discovered thanks to a new privacy feature in iOS 14, which is currently in a limited beta version for developers. The operating system now notifies users when an application copies something from another application or device. This has led people to detect questionable app behaviors that seem to copy clipboard content with every keystroke.
LinkedIn was called in a tweet on Thursday by a person who said that the LinkedIn iPad app was copying content from other sources, such as a notes app. A LinkedIn spokesperson pointed out The edge to Berger’s tweet when asked for comment. Berger wrote that LinkedIn would follow up “once the solution is active in our app.”
TikTok was called for similar behavior last week. Similarly, the app seemed to be repeatedly grabbing the contents of the clipboard while the user was typing, worrying that it was spying on data from other apps. TikTok said the behavior was part of an “antispam” role and that it would suspend the practice.
As iOS 14 becomes more widespread, a public beta is expected in the coming weeks, we are likely to meet other apps with equally awkward clipboard copying behaviors.
