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Mining EXIF Data From Camera Phones
emeitner notes that folks at the Internet Storm Center wrote scripts that harvested 15,291 images from Twitpic and analyzed the EXIF information. This reader adds, "While mining EXIF data from images is nothing new, how many people would allow this data to leave their cell phone if they knew what it contained? The source code for the scripts is also available from the article." "399 images included the location of the camera at the time the image was taken, and 102 images included the name of the photographer. ... The iPhone is including the most EXIF information among the images we found. ... It not only includes the phone's location, but also accelerometer data showing if the phone was moved at the time the picture was taken and the readout from the [built-]in compass showing in which direction the phone was pointed at the time."
Say you're witnessing a crime from your comfy couch and decide to take a picture and post it on the interwebs for... I dunno, "teh lulz" or because you want to become anonyfamous in some CNN iReport or who cares.
Now, nothing in the picture itself identifies you or where it was shot.
But then the EXIF data comes in and gives the perp, or his buddies, the exact location from where the picture was taken. Next thing you know, your house/its occupants are a target.
Perhaps we should all be 'smart enough' to strip the EXIF data when it comes to such images - but when the users themselves might not even know that their phone (of all things) is including this data when they use the little twitpic app to quick-submit the thing...
I can certainly see reason, at least, for such utilities to strip this data by default / prompt the user / etc.