I created a custom video control (via canvas) to interactively control video playback (speed, forward, reverse, etc). It works great. Until I tested on an iPad (13.3.1). Everything works, except for 'play()', which is kind of a huge show stopper. The custom control is no longer viable. Here is a very small test case that illustrates the problem: https://www.duckware.com/test/webkit/iosplayvideofails.html In the bordered canvas box under the video: (1) A touch, slide, release FAILS to play the video (2) A touch, release DOES play the video So somehow the 'slide' is the issue. If the video is first muted (button provided), a 'slide to play' in the custom control works, which appears to be a huge tip off that Safari is intentionally blocking play() from working. Is this a bug? If not, how can a user-initiated 'slide' play a video?