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> There a APIs in iOS (which existed before iOS 14) that allow you ask the OS if the clipboard content matches a pattern (e.g. is it a URL)

I don’t think that’s the case. You can check if there’s a URL in the clipboard but that’s a UTI thing.

Most of the URLs would likely be in the “strings” section of the clipboard.

Aren't they just checking with an UTI? So for example a package tracking app can't ask if it contains strings matching patterns describing common package tracking code formats?

True (and I'm aware of those APIs). Just pointing out that "I want to know what's on the system clipboard without the user explicitly pasting" does not automatically equal trying to hoover up your data and phone home with it.