Nolan Lawson

So I thought it'd be a cool privacy feature for Mastodon to automatically strip EXIF metadata from photos (e.g. GPS latlong, date, etc.). Turns out Eugen already thought of that! 😁 https://github.com/tootsuite/mastodon/issues/85

I even checked some uploaded photos with ImageMagick; they're all empty! BTW here's the EXIF data from a typical photo I took on my Nexus 5X. I really did have to make the text that small to fit.

Apr 9, 2017 at 4:25amWeb
Show threada pile of mossApr 9, 2017
@nolan took that photo at work eh?
Show threadNolan LawsonApr 9, 2017
@whale_eat_squid Yeah you could probably even deduce that from the EXIF data. Assuming you squint. 😅
Show threada pile of mossApr 9, 2017
@nolan 20/10 vision 😎. The lat/lon and elevation are in there and easily legible. But everyone knows you work at MS so like not a surprise!
Show threadNolan LawsonApr 9, 2017

@whale_eat_squid omg I just realized you really did deduce it from the image. 😱 I thought I had already mentioned that I took the photo from work.

Great illustration of why it's cool to remove EXIF data!

Show threadpolarity 🇩🇪Apr 9, 2017
@nolan great news!
Show threadParker HigginsApr 9, 2017

Very cool that Mastodon strips EXIF data as a privacy-protective measure. Did you know that some copyright maximalists have argued that doing so could jeopardize a platform's DMCA safe harbor protections? https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/04/eff-supports-cafepress-safe-harbor-claim

@nolan

Show threadino (archive)Apr 9, 2017
@nolan That's a fantastic feature and it gives me all the :smile:
Show threadit's B! Cavello 🐝Apr 10, 2017
@nolan NICE! @Gargron is so ON IT!
Show threadNolan LawsonApr 10, 2017
@b_cavello @Gargron Honestly I thought I had screwed up the ImageMagick command when the output was all empty, but then I searched and found the GitHub issue. 😁
Show threadit's B! Cavello 🐝Apr 10, 2017
@nolan @Gargron ur gr8
Show threadRobbie 🌊Apr 10, 2017
@nolan I would have keep it as an options. Tomorrow I'll be glad to have a plugin that can map all my pictures. Balance privacy/features
Show threadNolan LawsonApr 10, 2017
@Robbie good point, this is something potentially configurable per-user
Show threadEric OesterleApr 10, 2017

@nolan @Robbie

I love that @Gargron is stripping EXIF data.
In the future, I'd like to be able to opt in on including EXIF data for specific photos.
Geography is a valuable index into content.

Show threadSimon ZerafaApr 14, 2017
@nolan I can also see uses for keeping it in as well. EXIF can be helpful. Optional automated removal could be good feature 🙂