Fields worth looking at
| Field | What it is | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
Make / Model | Camera or phone that took the photo | Present on most real camera photos; absent on generated images |
Software / CreatorTool | App that last saved the file | Often names the AI tool (Midjourney, Firefly, ComfyUI…) |
DigitalSourceType | IPTC field for how the image was made | trainedAlgorithmicMedia = generative AI |
DateTimeOriginal | When the shutter fired | Missing or identical to the save time is a weak hint |
GPSLatitude / GPSLongitude | Where the photo was taken | Privacy risk — check before sharing originals |
Credit / Description | Free-text fields | Some generators write their name or the prompt here |
Fields that point to an AI tool are highlighted in red, as is any GPS location.
EXIF, XMP, IPTC and Content Credentials — the difference
- EXIF — written by cameras and phones: exposure, lens, date, GPS.
- XMP — an extensible block used by editing apps; carries software names and edit history.
- IPTC — descriptive fields for publishing: caption, credit, copyright, and the digital source type that marks AI-generated media.
- Content Credentials (C2PA)— a signed record. Unlike the three above, it can't be edited without breaking the signature, so it's much harder to fake.
Why your file shows no metadata
Screenshots start with an empty slate, and most social networks and chat apps strip metadata when they re-compress an upload — partly for privacy, partly to save space. In our own test, a single re-save as JPEG removed a 21,881-byte Content Credentials block entirely. If you need the metadata, ask for the original file sent as a document or via email, not as a chat photo.
Can metadata prove an image is real?
No. Unsigned metadata can be added, edited or copied from another photo with free tools, so camera fields only raise or lower suspicion. Signed Content Credentials are much stronger, but they only cover what the signing app recorded. For a judgement that combines all of it with a detection model, use the AI image detector.
Removing metadata before you share
If the GPS warning appears on your own photo, turn off location tagging in your camera app, or share a copy through an app that strips location. On iPhone the share sheet has an “Options → Location” switch; on Android most gallery apps offer “Remove location data” when sharing.
Related: is this image AI? · SynthID checker