RaceTalePrivacy
Is it safe to post race photos? GPS in photos explained
Race photos can hold the exact place they were taken. Learn what GPS in photos reveals, who can see it and how to share race pictures safely.
GPS in photos is safe to share only if you know it is there. A photo file can carry the exact spot where it was taken, and some ways of sharing keep that spot. If you remove the location first and avoid showing where you live or train, race photos are safe to post.
Most people never see this data, which is why it matters. Here is what sits inside a photo, who can read it and a short checklist.
What is GPS in photos?#
Your camera saves extra information inside each photo file. People call it Exif metadata. It can include:
- The date and time the photo was taken.
- The phone or camera model.
- Settings such as exposure.
- GPS coordinates, if the camera app had permission to use your location.
The coordinates can point to a street, or even a house. Apple warns that when Location Services is on for the Camera app, the app embeds location coordinates in photos, and that people you share with may be able to see where a photo was taken.
Can someone find my home from GPS in photos?#
They can, if the file still has its location and you share the original. A photo taken at the end of a run that starts at your door can point to your door. A route map can do the same, because many runs begin and end at home.
Many social networks remove location data from the copy they show, but not all do. Other ways of sending a photo may also keep it. So do not assume: check before you share a file by link or email.
How do I share race photos safely?#
- Turn off location for the camera app, or remove location data before sharing. On an iPhone, Apple explains that you can tap Options in the share sheet and turn Location off.
- Hide the start and end of your route. Your front door is often the start, so RaceTale can hide the first and last 200 metres.
- Share with the people who were there, by a private link you can turn off later.
- Ask before you post a photo of a child or of someone else's bib.
- Keep the original, with its data, for yourself.
What does RaceTale do about GPS in photos?#
A RaceTale story is private by default and unlisted, so only people with the link can open it, and nobody can guess its address. RaceTale removes GPS from every public picture. You can also hide the start and end of your route, revoke the link and delete everything, including the stored files.
RaceTale tells contributors that you will see and may publish their uploads, and they can delete their own. There are no ad trackers. For the wider picture, see how to make a race story.
Frequently asked questions#
Do photos from my phone contain GPS data?#
They can. If the camera app is allowed to use location, it saves coordinates in the file.
Does posting to social media remove GPS data?#
Many services remove it from the version they display, but not all do, and not every way of sharing does. So treat it as a risk until you have checked.
How do I remove GPS from a photo?#
Turn off camera location in your phone settings. Alternatively, choose the share option that leaves location out before you send the file.
Is a race story public?#
No. It is private by default, and you share it only with a link you control.
What if a contributor does not want their photo shown?#
They can delete their own uploads, and there is also a report path for any photo.
