Android now stops you sharing your location in photos

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Scope of the Change / What Actually Happens

  • Android’s scoped storage from Android 10 onward hides EXIF GPS data by default unless an app requests ACCESS_MEDIA_LOCATION and the user grants it.
  • Mobile browsers like Chrome and Firefox on Android do not request this permission, so any image selected via the system photo picker is delivered with GPS coordinates zeroed out.
  • Many share flows that use MediaStore URIs (including Bluetooth or QuickShare from gallery apps in some setups) also strip GPS; file managers using raw file access often do not.
  • The native Android photo picker also renames files (or hides originals) in ways that confuse users and some apps; Google classifies filename stripping as “intended behavior.”

Privacy and Safety Arguments (Pro Change)

  • Most users are unaware that photos contain precise location, timestamps, device details, etc.
  • Stripping EXIF on upload is seen as aligning with user expectations and reducing risks of stalking, doxxing, and inadvertent exposure (e.g., on mapping or social apps).
  • Some argue the OS should treat “my phone” as private and “browser / third‑party apps” as non‑private, enforcing data minimization by default.
  • Several commenters note similar behaviors on iOS and GrapheneOS and praise “maximum privacy by default,” especially for less technical users.

Criticism and Regressions (Against Change)

  • Power users and developers lose legitimate workflows: crowdsourcing (e.g., mapping, ecology), law‑enforcement documentation, photo organization, duplicate detection, and research projects.
  • Web apps cannot ask for EXIF GPS even with user consent; suggestions include HTML attributes or pickers with explicit “include location” toggles.
  • Some see this as turning general‑purpose phones into locked‑down appliances and as another unilateral, undocumented breaking change by a dominant platform.
  • Complaints extend to filename stripping and other “simplifying” changes (disallowed characters, hidden metadata), which break cross‑device sync and expert workflows.

Comparisons, Workarounds, and Broader Concerns

  • iOS reportedly allows per‑share control over including location; some wish Android copied this UI rather than hard‑stripping.
  • Workarounds mentioned: USB transfer, file managers, zipping files, alternative ROMs (e.g., GrapheneOS), or native apps that request the new permission.
  • Several note the irony that EXIF to websites is blocked while large platforms and data brokers still collect highly detailed location streams through other channels.