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Known Participant
March 7, 2017
Answered

Websites stripping EXIF data?

  • March 7, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 3784 views

Hi

I just did an experiment where I downloaded a photo I have taken and uploaded to LinkedIn and noticed that the EXIF data is missing. Basically any author data is missing making this photo available and free to anyone to use.

When I open the original exported JPEG on my desktop (using Mac Preview) all that data exists so how can it be stripped when published online? I thought that the point of EXIF data was to reduce or eliminate the risk of malicious use of photos.

Thanks

Mic

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer John Waller

The point under discussion here is that it does not matter if you include EXIF (meta)data in Lightroom then upload the image, LinkedIn and other social media sites strip it out by design

Did You Know That Social Media Sites Strip Images of IPTC Metadata? – Libris Visual Storytelling Blog

What Social Networks Protect Your EXIF (And GPS Location) Data From Other Users? – GPS For Today

I assume the reasons include security and privacy of the individuals in the images.

2 replies

D Fosse
Community Expert
Community Expert
March 7, 2017

I'm just telling you how the legislation works. If you find your work used inappropriately, the copyright is there, metadata or not. It's easy enough to remove if that was all it took.

But I also think that social media and copyright are incompatible entities. If you worry about usage, don't post them there.

Copyright was invented to protect printed, physical material. It doesn't really work well on the internet, and it's almost impossible to enforce or follow up. That's why Creative Commons license models are becoming increasingly common. That doesn't mean free for all, but accepting that distribution is almost impossible to prevent, you instead specify conditions for that distribution. Naming the author, no alterations, no commercial use, that sort of thing.

Known Participant
March 7, 2017

Cool thanks.

Mohit Goyal
Community Manager
Community Manager
March 7, 2017

Hi studiomigo,

You need to save the metadata to the file so that it should save the EXIF data within the image.

Select one or more photos in the Grid view of the Library module and choose Metadata > Save Metadata To File(s), or press Ctrl+S (Windows) or Command+S (Mac OS)

Refer the article for information: Metadata basics and actions in Lightroom

Let us know if that helps.

Regards,

Mohit

John Waller
Community Expert
John WallerCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
March 7, 2017

The point under discussion here is that it does not matter if you include EXIF (meta)data in Lightroom then upload the image, LinkedIn and other social media sites strip it out by design

Did You Know That Social Media Sites Strip Images of IPTC Metadata? – Libris Visual Storytelling Blog

What Social Networks Protect Your EXIF (And GPS Location) Data From Other Users? – GPS For Today

I assume the reasons include security and privacy of the individuals in the images.