Sharing images from other apps removes EXIF location on Android > 10

[AykutCevik]

Steps to reproduce

1. Take a picture with a camera app which writes also GPS data into the picture
2. Ensure GPS data is written into the picture with different apps like file browser or gallery app
3. Upload this picture with the Nextcloud Android app version 3.11.1 via the share menu from gallery app
4. Download picture from Nextcloud instance with a browser and look at the GPS data of the file
5. See that the GPS data is missing or more likely set to zero

Expected behaviour

• Pictures shouldn't lose their GPS data while uploaded through the app
  

Actual behaviour

• Pictures are missing GPS data after upload
  

Can you reproduce this problem on https://try.nextcloud.com?

• Upload through the browser to Nextcloud works fine, just app removes the informations

Environment data

Android version: 10 (OxygenOS 10.3.3)
Device model: OnePlus 6T
Stock or customized system: Stock
Nextcloud app version: 3.11.1
Nextcloud server version: 18.0.5
Reverse proxy: Nginx

Logs

Web server error log

Nothing worth to mention

Nextcloud log (data/nextcloud.log)

Only related to "Maps" app while trying to analyze the image since the GPS data is wrong.

Nothing worth to mention

I faced this issue since I saw that the pictures weren't showing up in the Maps app of Nextcloud. So this is not a new issue. Also I can surely say that the problem started before 20th of April, so also with a prior version. I can share pictures in a PM.

Appreciate any ideas for solving this issue.
Thank you for your great work!

[strugee]

3\. Upload this picture with the Nextcloud Android app version 3.11.1

How are you uploading the picture? Auto Upload? The "Upload files" button? The "Upload content from other apps" button?

Stock or customized system: FALSE

Does this mean you have a stock system? (I.e. the version of Android that came with your phone)

Reverse proxy: FALSE

I believe this question is asking what web server you access Nextcloud through.

[AykutCevik]

@strugee updated the issue.

Trying several other uploads, I found out that the issue may not be related to the Nextcloud app itself.

I've uploaded pictures through the share menu from both apps:

• OnePlus stock gallery app
• Simple gallery app (com.simplemobiletools.gallery.pro)

Both uploads resulted in setting the GPS data to zero.

Upload through a file browser like "Amaze" or through the Nextcloud app itself didn't change the GPS data.

Tricky one! I will contact the app maintainers and reference to this issue here.

[AykutCevik]

I have to reopen it again since I'm not quite sure how to debug this issue without brainstorming/information from here.

The "simple gallery" app provider said that they don't change the image beforehand. What could be the problem?

[InfamousUser]

I think it is usual for sharing application to remove metadata, it used to be a huge privacy leak sending images over IMs that turned out to contain user's exact coordinates.
Not sure if cloud backup tools should do it, they should not IMO, but it could be normal, somebody will know more about this.

[AykutCevik]

Also to reference a comment which describes exactly the same thing: nextcloud/maps#361 (comment)

[strugee]

Upload through a file browser like "Amaze" or through the Nextcloud app itself didn't change the GPS data.

How exactly did you upload in all of these apps? Did you use the "Share" button in Amaze? In Simple Gallery? In the stock gallery? In general the more information and specifics contained in a bug report, the better.

[AykutCevik]

@strugee as I said in point 3:
via the share menu from gallery app
This was the approach for all of the apps. The gallery app is stock, yes.

[tobiasKaminsky]

NC is not changing any metadata.
You should easily find the causing app via uploading with different apps.
If you can really reproduce it via NC please re-open.

[AykutCevik]

Sorry, but I have to reopen this. It is still an issue, if I share a picture through the gallery or files app, nextcloud removes/nulls the GPS data all the time:

I tested this on a OnePlus 6T with Android 11 as well as on Samsung S21 Ultra with Android 12. On Samsung, I was even able to tick a checkbox prior sharing to keep the GPS data. Nextcloud itself removes them unfortunately.

[AykutCevik]

@tobiasKaminsky can we reopen this issue please? It prevents me from uploading images through gallery apps which is way more convenient than doing it through the Nextcloud app.