← Years 7–8 Data & Information

Metadata and location in photos

Hidden details stored inside a photo or file, like the time, device and GPS location. It can add to your digital footprint when you share it, so check and remove it first.

Part of: 7-8 Digital Technologies: Digital footprint and privacy — Module 6, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6 — Digital Footprints — Module 11, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Digital Footprints and Data Minimisation — Module 6, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Privacy Principles and Digital Footprints — Module 9

Understanding Metadata and location in photos in Years 7–8 Data & Information

What it does: The Details tab in file properties lists metadata such as the device, date and GPS location. If location tagging is off, the camera does not save GPS coordinates in new photos. Metadata is stored inside the photo file. You can't see it just by looking at the picture. Metadata can reveal where you live. Removing it first keeps it out of your digital footprint. The hidden location and time details become extra data about you that others can see, which adds to your footprint.

Common mistakes: The closing bracket is missing from open(). It should be photo ← open("beach.jpg") so the photo opens and its metadata can be read. This shares the metadata instead of the cleaned photo. It should be share(photo) after the GPS location has been removed.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 100–124) and word search (Modules 87–124).

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Learning
Duo
A photo you take on your phone can contain hidden details like the time and GPS location.
True: this hidden information is called metadataFalse: a photo only contains the picture you can see
Matches
Rename photo to holiday.jpg to remove metadata
↓
Renaming a file only changes its name. The hidden metadata stays inside the file.
Applying
Meanings
Term
metadata
Meaning
Hidden details stored inside a photo or file, like the time, device and GPS location. It can add to your digital footprint when you share it, so check and remove it first.
Practice
SET photo TO "beach.jpg"
Testing
Gaps
Hidden data in a photo is called
Check Answer
Spots
1photo ← open("beach.jpg"
2meta ← photo.metadata

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Quick Questions

1. A photo you take on your phone can contain hidden details like the time and GPS location.
A. True: this hidden information is called metadata ✓
B. False: a photo only contains the picture you can see
Metadata is stored inside the photo file. You can't see it just by looking at the picture.
2. Which of these is an example of photo metadata?
A. The GPS location where the photo was taken ✓
B. The number of likes the photo gets
Metadata is stored inside the file itself, such as the time, the device and the GPS location. Likes are added later by other people.
3. How can you check what metadata a photo has?
A. Look at the file properties or info on your device ✓
B. Zoom in as far as you can on the picture
Viewing the file properties (or info) shows hidden details like the date, device and location. Zooming in only shows more of the picture.
4. You want to stop your phone camera from saving where you took your photos. What should you do?
A. Turn up the screen brightness
B. Turn off location tagging in the camera settings ✓
If location tagging is off, the camera stops saving GPS details into new photos.
5. You are about to post a photo taken at home. What is the safest step first?
A. Share it now and hope nobody checks the details
B. Remove the metadata before you share it ✓
Metadata can reveal where you live. Removing it first keeps it out of your digital footprint.

Match the Pairs

GPS: -37.8136, 144.9631 → Location metadata that shows exactly where a photo was taken
Date taken: 14/03/2025 4:32 PM → Time metadata that shows when a photo was taken
You can view the hidden details of a photo by checking its file properties → Right-click photo > Properties > Details
You can stop new photos from saving your location by turning off location tagging in the camera settings → Camera settings > Location tags: Off
Rename photo to holiday.jpg to remove metadata → Renaming a file only changes its name. The hidden metadata stays inside the file.
Share photo first, then remove metadata → The steps are in the wrong order. Once the photo is shared, others already have the metadata.

Key Term

metadata
Hidden details stored inside a photo or file, like the time, device and GPS location. It can add to your digital footprint when you share it, so check and remove it first.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Hidden data in a photo is called metadata
Hint: Type the term for hidden details stored inside a file
2. Camera setting: Location tagging = OFF
Hint: Type the setting value that stops your location being saved in photos
3. Right-click file > Properties > Details
Hint: Type the menu option that lets you view a file's hidden details
4. IF photo has GPS data THEN remove it before sharing
Hint: Type the action you take on location data before you share a photo
5. Metadata can include time, device and GPS
Hint: Type the abbreviation for the satellite system that records your location

Spot the Error

Question 1
A photo ← open("beach.jpg"
B meta ← photo.metadata
C print(meta.gps)
Line A — The closing bracket is missing from open(). It should be photo ← open("beach.jpg") so the photo opens and its metadata can be read.
Question 2
A photo ← open("cat.jpg")
B meta ← photo.metadata
C remove(meta.gps)
D share(meta)
Line D — This shares the metadata instead of the cleaned photo. It should be share(photo) after the GPS location has been removed.
Question 3
A settings ← camera.settings
B settings.location ← "on"
C save(settings)
Line B — Setting location to "on" keeps location tagging running, so new photos still store where they were taken. It should be "off".
Question 4
A FOR each photo IN album
B delete(photo)
C END FOR
Line B — delete(photo) removes the whole photo, not just its hidden details. It should be remove(photo.metadata) to strip the metadata and keep the photo.
Question 5
A photo ← open("pet.jpg")
B time ← photo.metadata.time
C device ← photo.metadata.devise
D print(time, device)
Line C — The property name is spelled wrong. It should be photo.metadata.device to read which device took the photo.

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