Facebook’s Photo Sharing (Also) Fails To Preserve Photo Metadata

Another example of social media websites taking a blasé attitude to embedded metadata is Facebook’s new photo sharing platform.  As reported on the Photometadata blog:

“In addition, while the images that can be viewed online are now up to 720 pixels on the long dimension, they are still being “stripped” of all IPTC, XMP, and Exif metadata (ICC profile information is retained). The option for others to download a ‘high resolution” version, only prompts a download (you can not view the image online). I downloaded this larger version and tested as well. The only difference between the “high resolution” version and the online 720 pixel wide version, was the resolution — both are stripped of any information beyond the pixels and the ICC profile. Since all descriptive photo metadata is missing, this would mean that even the “original” is being modified before it is stored on their system — and potential orphan works are being created, each time you upload an image to facebook.” [Read More]

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