LinkedIn plans to stop its app from repeatedly copying the contents of an iOS devices clipboard, after a user highlighted the seemingly privacy-invasive practice earlier today. ZDNet reports that LinkedIn called the habits a bug.
As iOS 14 present more extensively– a public beta is anticipated in the coming weeks– its most likely well find out of other apps with similarly discomforting clipboard copying habits.
LinkedIn was called out in a tweet on Thursday from a person who stated LinkedIns iPad app was copying contents from other sources, such as a notes app. A LinkedIn representative pointed The Verge to Bergers tweet when asked for comment. Berger wrote that LinkedIn would follow up “when the fix is live in our app.”
The app copies clipboard contents in order to perform an “equality check” in between what a user is typing and whats in their clipboard, according to LinkedIn engineering VP Erran Berger. Berger did not state why this check was essential. “We dont shop or transmit the clipboard contents,” Berger composed on Twitter.
The habits was discovered thanks to a new personal privacy function in iOS 14, which is currently in a limited beta for developers. The os now informs users when an app copies something from another app or gadget. This has actually caused individuals spotting doubtful habits from apps that appear to copy clipboard contents with every keystroke.
TikTok was called out for comparable habits last week. The app similarly appeared to be repeatedly getting clipboard contents as a user typed, causing issue that it was spying on information from other apps. TikTok stated the habits belonged to an “anti-spam” feature which it would discontinue the practice.
