Geolocation

All social media platforms allow media (photo and video) uploads, and some offer live streaming. Uploading or streaming media to social media risks leaking metadata about the media to the internet if it is not removed prior to uploading. Metadata includes:

  • GPS coordinates the media was captured
  • Direction the device was facing
  • Date and time the media was captured
  • The type of device the media was captured on

This sensitive metadata could be used by an adversary to locate you, your team, your accommodation, places you visited, your device and more.
Recommendations:

  1. Disable geolocation on your device for the camera
  2. Avoid posting media in real time - delay all social media posting that could be geolocated
  3. Do not live stream whilst in the field
Last updated: 03/04/2026