Are GPS coordinates attached to cell phone pictures?

**KitchenKhemist** · 12-07-2009, 01:26 PM

I read somewhere that an uploaded image from a cell phone contains the latitude and longitude of where that photo was taken, but can't seem to find any articles concerning this matter. Anyone know if it's true?

**blahblahblah123** · 12-07-2009, 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by KitchenKhemist

I read somewhere that an uploaded image from a cell phone contains the latitude and longitude of where that photo was taken, but can't seem to find any articles concerning this matter. Anyone know if it's true?

I can't speak for all phones, but for the most part 'no'. My phone has that feature, but you have to turn it on, and usually theirs a little symbol that tells you its a GPS pic... also the fact that your GPS receiver has to flip on. Cell phone triangulation alone is not accurate enough.

**ambience** · 12-10-2009, 09:50 AM

Originally Posted by blahblahblah123

I can't speak for all phones, but for the most part 'no'. My phone has that feature, but you have to turn it on, and usually theirs a little symbol that tells you its a GPS pic... also the fact that your GPS receiver has to flip on. Cell phone triangulation alone is not accurate enough.

Some phones, such as the iPhone, do have this technology. However most image uploading sites, such as Flickr have the option not to upload the location data. just look and make sure you always have that option to upload it off.

**chroni4chron2chron0** · 12-11-2009, 12:08 AM

Ya my blackberry has it. Its called GEO Tagging I think

**redivider** · 12-11-2009, 01:08 AM

i would never upload a mobile pic...

if you take the pic, don't text/email it through your cell... try uploading it through a cable to your computer... then use photoshop or paint to copy/paste the pic into a new document, then you save as a jpeg.

a new document is created.... no cellphone bar-code, connecting crazy dots/your busted bullshit....

but that's just me....

**KitchenKhemist** · 12-11-2009, 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by redivider

i would never upload a mobile pic...

if you take the pic, don't text/email it through your cell... try uploading it through a cable to your computer... then use photoshop or paint to copy/paste the pic into a new document, then you save as a jpeg.

a new document is created.... no cellphone bar-code, connecting crazy dots/your busted bullshit....

but that's just me....

That's what i was thinkin yesterday...thanks for the advice my friend.

**YobSmoke** · 12-12-2009, 12:49 AM

I'm pretty sure it's just with iPhones, it might be others as well though.

**redivider** · 12-16-2009, 12:09 PM

if you upload it to the internet, or send the pics, all carriers can triangulate through the towers to give an approx. location of the cell phone when the pics were uploaded......

**born2killspam** · 12-19-2009, 09:11 AM

Do what redivider said.. We know the technology is out there, and we know shit like the Patriot Act are out there.. Mobile companies handing over info to the feds just got tossed through the news recently..

**thelastpirate** · 12-21-2009, 06:49 AM

Originally Posted by redivider

if you upload it to the internet, or send the pics, all carriers can triangulate through the towers to give an approx. location of the cell phone when the pics were uploaded......

They can do this.....but ONLY at the very moment you upload the pic. Other than that, nada. Oh, and BTW Redivider. You have to manually go in and strip/delete the EXIF meta-data from an image file. Just using photoshop or any other image manipulation program, or cutting and pasting does NOT remove the EXIF data. It follows the image everywhere and has been used in court for many reasons including to establish who took the pic (make & model of the Camera, exposure info), when and where it was taken etc. That suggestion is gonna get someone busted. Please don't state shit as fact when you are not certain of your facts, or are repeating something you may have read on another forum. We have enough misinformation flying around as it is.

Originally Posted by born2killspam

Do what redivider said.. We know the technology is out there, and we know shit like the Patriot Act are out there.. Mobile companies handing over info to the feds just got tossed through the news recently..

Yeah, PATRIOT is bad, FISA is bad, but the likelyhood of any local agency or Cop invoking PATRIOT or FISA to investigate you, even as a grower, is extremely remote, almost to the point of "it aint happening". It costs a whole lot of money to utilize most technology, and we aint the only ones feeling the pinch in this financial crisis. LEO everywhere is facing crippling budget cuts. They are mostly relying on the fact that the public BELIEVES that LEO is as good as NCIS or CSI. The fact that John Q Public is aware that the technology exists is more of a deterrent than the actual use of that technology. They rely on the publics "ignorance" of the technology. This thread is an excellent case in point.

Guys, rather than live in fear about the cops and thier use of technology, google the technology, learn it, understand it's use and it's limitations.

To answer the question, Yes, camera pics can (and often do) contain GPS data. All "smart phones" (Black Jack, Blackberry, IPhone, etc) have that capability, and in the case of my Blackberry, I had to turn that feature OFF! It's on by default!!!
Make it a law graven in stone. NO CELL PHONE PICS of the girls. PERIOD!!
Better safe than sorry.