Understanding verification and documentation WHAT IS METADATA? This information can include the time and date a file was created, the username of the people who created or edited it, information about the device that created it, and other kinds of information. In other words, the metadata in a file could expose who created a file. This information is generated automatically by devices like cameras, computers, and phones, but it can also be edited and manipulated by those who know how. This can be a good thing, if you want information to be private when you share files, but the risks are obvious if you are dealing with verification of sensitive human rights information. Metadata is information about a file (such as a word document, a PDF, a picture, music file etc.) that is stored within the file itself, hidden from view. 22 Let’s take pictures as an example. When you take a picture with your digital camera, what happens? If your camera or phone knows where you are, then that information (in the form of GPS coordinates) can be saved in the metadata of the file. If your camera knows what time it is, it records the date and time the picture was taken. If your camera or phone has a serial number that may be recorded in metadata as well. Digital image file formats such as TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) and JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) created by digital cameras or smartphones, contain metadata in a format called EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) which could include all of the above information and even a thumbnail of the original image.