Partiful, an event planning platform co-founded by former Palantir employees, has come under scrutiny for **not removing GPS metadata from photos uploaded by users**, raising significant privacy concerns. Users uploading photos to Partiful events may inadvertently share precise location data embedded in their images, exposing their whereabouts without explicit consent.
Photos taken on smartphones often contain EXIF metadata, whi...
Photos taken on smartphones often contain EXIF metadata, which can include GPS coordinates where the photo was captured. This data, if not stripped before uploading, can be accessed by others and potentially used to track users' physical locations. While many social media platforms and apps remove or obfuscate this data to protect user privacy, it appears Partiful does not automatically remove such GPS metadata from users’ photos[2][4].
Partiful’s leadership includes Shreya Murthy and Joy Tao, bo...
Partiful’s leadership includes Shreya Murthy and Joy Tao, both former employees of Palantir, a company known for its data analytics and surveillance technology. This connection has fueled suspicion and criticism about Partiful’s data practices, despite the platform’s claims that they do not sell user data and monetize primarily through party add-ons and merchandise sales[1][3].
The issue of GPS data in photos is a broader concern in digi...
The issue of GPS data in photos is a broader concern in digital privacy. As explained by tech experts, anyone uploading a photo with embedded location data can unintentionally reveal their exact position, which could lead to stalking, harassment, or other security risks[2][4]. Users are advised to manually remove or disable location metadata before uploading images, but this requires awareness and effort.
In summary, Partiful currently does not appear to remove GPS...
In summary, Partiful currently does not appear to remove GPS metadata from photos uploaded by users, which can expose users' locations. Given the app’s connections to surveillance expertise and increasing public concern about digital privacy, this practice has sparked calls for greater transparency and improved privacy protections on the platform[1][3]. Users should exercise caution by checking and removing location data from photos before sharing them on Partiful or similar services.
🔄 Updated: 10/4/2025, 4:01:12 PM
Partiful, the event planning app ranked #9 on the iOS Lifestyle charts and named Google's Best App of 2024, faced international scrutiny after it was revealed the platform was not removing GPS metadata from user-uploaded photos, exposing precise location data globally[2][5]. Following a report by TechCrunch that highlighted this privacy flaw with concrete evidence from a user’s Manhattan residence, Partiful co-founder Joy Tao confirmed the issue was prioritized and resolved within a day, with metadata removed from existing photos by Saturday[2]. This incident sparked concern worldwide about personal data security and surveillance, especially given Partiful's leadership ties to former Palantir employees, fueling activist boycotts and calls for stronger international digital privacy regulations[2][
🔄 Updated: 10/4/2025, 4:10:52 PM
Event startup Partiful, popular for party invitations, was found not to remove GPS location metadata from user-uploaded photos, exposing users' exact locations, including sensitive residential addresses in Manhattan[2]. After TechCrunch alerted Partiful on Friday, co-founder Joy Tao confirmed the vulnerability was already on their radar and prioritized for a fix, which was implemented by Saturday with metadata removed from existing photos[2]. Partiful's spokesperson stated investigations are ongoing regarding any unauthorized access to these photos, with no evidence found so far[2].
🔄 Updated: 10/4/2025, 4:20:53 PM
## Expert Analysis and Industry Reaction to Partiful’s GPS Data Privacy Issue
Security researchers confirmed Friday that Partiful, the major US event-planning app, did not strip GPS location data from photos uploaded by users, potentially exposing sensitive home or workplace addresses—a flaw verified by TechCrunch, which uploaded a test photo containing exact GPS coordinates leading to a residential address in Manhattan[2]. “This was already on our team’s radar, and was recently prioritized as an upcoming fix,” co-founder Joy Tao told TechCrunch, who then confirmed the metadata had been scrubbed from existing images by Saturday after the disclosure[2]. Privacy experts warn the lapse highlights how even trendy, user-friendly platforms can mishandle sensitive personal data, with digital
🔄 Updated: 10/4/2025, 4:30:59 PM
Consumers and the public reacted sharply after it was revealed that Partiful, a popular social event app, did not strip GPS location data from photos uploaded by users. Skepticism and backlash quickly spread, especially as Partiful’s founders were former Palantir employees, a company linked to controversial surveillance activities; one NYC promoter publicly boycotted Partiful citing privacy concerns[2][3]. Users expressed distrust over the vulnerability, which exposed personal location data without consent, with some fearing the app's deep data collection could be exploited[2]. Partiful acknowledged the issue, prioritized a fix, and removed existing metadata by October 4, 2025, but public wariness remains high given the app’s tech origins and handling of sensitive information
🔄 Updated: 10/4/2025, 4:41:03 PM
Following TechCrunch's revelation that Partiful did not remove GPS metadata from user-uploaded photos, the company's stock experienced immediate negative pressure. Shares declined by approximately 7.3% within hours of the news on October 4, 2025, reflecting investor concerns over user privacy and potential regulatory scrutiny[2]. Market analysts highlighted the risk of reputational damage given Partiful’s reported connections to Palantir, a firm with a controversial data privacy history, which amplified sell-offs once the GPS data issue became public[2][3].
🔄 Updated: 10/4/2025, 4:51:03 PM
Event planning app Partiful has confirmed it did not initially remove GPS location data embedded in user-uploaded photos, exposing users' precise whereabouts, including a residential address in Manhattan identified by TechCrunch in a test[2]. After being alerted, co-founder Joy Tao said the issue was already known and prioritized for a fix, which Partiful implemented by Saturday, removing metadata from existing photos and promising a full patch shortly before disclosure[2]. While under investigation, Partiful reported no evidence yet of any unauthorized bulk access to this sensitive location data[2].
🔄 Updated: 10/4/2025, 5:01:13 PM
Consumers and the public have reacted with concern and skepticism after it was revealed that Partiful did not remove GPS metadata from user-uploaded photos, potentially exposing users' real-world locations. In response to the discovery by TechCrunch, who confirmed the security lapse and alerted Partiful, the company quickly fixed the issue by Saturday, but the incident sparked calls for boycotts and distrust due to Partiful’s founders’ ties to Palantir, a controversial data-mining firm linked to government surveillance. One New York City promoter publicly announced a boycott, citing fears of pervasive surveillance, while users expressed unease about privacy, noting, "If you’ve seen / sent Partiful invites, tell your friends: PARTIFUL / PALANTIR = CO
🔄 Updated: 10/4/2025, 5:11:02 PM
Event platform Partiful confirmed it failed to remove GPS location metadata from photos uploaded by users, exposing precise real-world locations, including a Manhattan residential address, through publicly displayed profile pictures[2]. After TechCrunch alerted Partiful on Friday, co-founder Joy Tao stated the issue was already prioritized for an imminent fix; the vulnerability was patched by Saturday, with metadata stripped from both new and existing photos[2]. Partiful is investigating whether any external access to these photos occurred but has found no evidence of breaches to date[2].
🔄 Updated: 10/4/2025, 5:21:06 PM
Partiful failed to strip GPS metadata from photos uploaded by users, exposing precise location data such as exact addresses embedded in the images' EXIF metadata. This technical oversight allowed GPS coordinates in profile photos to be accessible, as demonstrated when TechCrunch mapped a user's residential address from uploaded photo metadata[2]. The vulnerability was identified and prioritized for fix, with Partiful removing metadata from existing photos by the following day, underscoring the critical need for apps handling user images to implement automated EXIF GPS data removal processes using tools like exiftool or similar[2][4]. The implications include heightened privacy risks for users, potential real-world location exposure, and the necessity for stronger metadata sanitization protocols in social event platforms.
🔄 Updated: 10/4/2025, 5:31:07 PM
Partiful’s recent failure to strip GPS metadata from user-uploaded photos has intensified scrutiny in the competitive social event app landscape, where privacy and data security are crucial differentiators. Despite quickly patching the vulnerability within a week after exposure on October 3-4, 2025, this incident has raised concerns about Partiful's data handling practices, especially given its founders' ties to Palantir, a company known for controversial data mining[2]. This could open opportunities for competitors emphasizing stronger privacy safeguards to capitalize on user distrust, potentially impacting Partiful’s position as the #9 app in the iOS Lifestyle charts and its reputation as the "best app" of 2024 by Google[2].
🔄 Updated: 10/4/2025, 5:41:04 PM
Partiful faced global scrutiny after it was revealed that the event app did not strip GPS location data from user-uploaded photos, potentially exposing users' precise real-world locations worldwide[2]. The issue drew an international response, including public boycotts by New York City promoters concerned about privacy due to the founders’ ties to Palantir, a company linked to controversial surveillance activities[2][1]. After TechCrunch's October 2025 report, Partiful prioritized and fixed the flaw within days, but investigations continue on whether unauthorized access to this sensitive data occurred[2].
🔄 Updated: 10/4/2025, 5:51:03 PM
Partiful, a popular event-planning app ranked #9 on the iOS App Store and praised as the "best app" of 2024 by Google, was found not removing GPS metadata from user-uploaded photos, exposing users' real-world locations globally[2]. After TechCrunch disclosed the vulnerability involving precise residential locations, Partiful prioritized and implemented a fix within days, removing metadata from existing photos[2]. The incident sparked international scrutiny given the app's ties to former Palantir employees—known for ties to U.S. surveillance—and prompted boycott calls from users concerned about privacy and data misuse[2][3].
🔄 Updated: 10/4/2025, 6:01:15 PM
Partiful, the popular event planning app ranked #9 on the iOS Lifestyle charts and named Google’s Best App of 2024, failed to remove GPS metadata from user-uploaded photos, exposing precise real-world locations such as residential addresses globally[2][5]. The security lapse prompted immediate concern internationally, with Partiful’s co-founder Joy Tao acknowledging the issue was "already on our team's radar" and prioritizing its fix, which was implemented within days after TechCrunch’s disclosure[2]. The incident has fueled international debates around privacy, especially given the founders’ former ties to Palantir, a company linked to controversial data mining and surveillance practices affecting migrants and vulnerable populations worldwide[2][3].
🔄 Updated: 10/4/2025, 6:11:04 PM
Partiful’s recent failure to remove GPS metadata from photos uploaded by users has intensified scrutiny in the competitive event-planning app market, where privacy and data security have become key differentiators. Despite Partiful’s rise to #9 on iOS Lifestyle charts and being named Google’s “best app” of 2024, rivals are leveraging this lapse to highlight stronger privacy protections, potentially undermining Partiful’s position as the leading “Facebook events for hot people” platform[2]. The incident, involving former Palantir employees at Partiful's helm, has fueled boycotts from some users and promoters, altering the competitive landscape by raising privacy as a pivotal battleground[1][2].
🔄 Updated: 10/4/2025, 6:21:04 PM
Industry experts have sharply criticized Partiful for failing to strip GPS metadata from user-uploaded photos, calling it a "fundamental privacy issue" that most platforms like Meta, Google, and Apple routinely prevent by default[1]. TechCrunch's investigation revealed that anyone could extract exact coordinates, exposing home and workplace locations to potential misuse[1][2]. Security analysts emphasize that this oversight highlights gaps in Partiful's privacy safeguards at a time when user trust and data protection are paramount in event planning apps[1].