Did you know that over 3 billion images are shared online every single day? Digital photography has taken the world by storm, and there is a lot of information hidden within every picture you take. We have put together this short guide to share more about what photo metadata is and reasons why you might consider removing it from your digital photography.
Read on to learn everything there is to know about photo metadata.
What Is Photo Metadata?
Metadata is data for the data of a picture, where it summarizes what a picture is about with details such as what, when, where, why, and who. What the picture file is, when the picture was taken, where it was taken, why it was taken, and who took the picture.
Every time you take a picture with a digital device like your cell phone, the metadata is stored on the images. If you share that picture with someone online, the metadata goes with it.
There is also something called EXIF metadata. This is where all the data is stored as an Exchangeable Image File Format (EXIF). This data has the exact date and time the picture was taken, the camera that took the picture, precise GPS coordinates of where it was taken, editing tools used, and camera settings while the picture was taken.
Should You Remove Metadata?
The average user will not see the details of the EXIF metadata, but the information does risk a breach when it comes to protecting your privacy. For example, when you upload images to your social media profiles, it takes your EXIF metadata with it. This means that cyberstalkers can use the embedded information and learn exactly where you are/were.
A famous example of when EXIF metadata was used to track someone down was in 2012. The famous John McAfee was hiding in Guatemala, and the authorities were able to track the EXIF location from the photos taken during an interview he did.
In some court cases, attorneys have used metadata to search for confidential information from the other party. Some states allow lawyers to do this freely, while others have stricter laws in place due to privacy issues.
The main goal for removing metadata is to prevent unnecessary exposure of personal information and to protect privacy, not necessarily to just hide crimes. You can use a reputable program such as AnyExif to remove the data before sharing your pictures.
Feeling Like a Metadata Pro?
Now that you learned the ins and outs of photo metadata, you can make an informed decision whether you want more privacy before you send your pictures or upload them online. Don’t forget you have the right to access, view and remove the metadata on your own pictures because at the end of the day this is your privacy.
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