Photo LedgerWhat a location reading means
Coordinates and addresses are estimates. The accuracy radius is uncertainty reported by the device, not a guarantee that the photo was captured at a precise point. Buildings, terrain, indoor conditions, available signals, location permissions and device settings can affect it.
A fresh reading can still be imprecise; a precise-looking reading can be stale. Check both age and reported uncertainty. Additional decimal places or degrees/minutes/seconds (DMS) formatting do not improve the underlying measurement. A map picture does not increase GPS accuracy.
Addresses, map pins and unavailable context
System address lookup can return an approximate, outdated or incorrect place, or no address. A street-map pin can also be approximate. A map/lookup outage is not proof that the camera location is correct or wrong. Inspect coordinates and the recorded context separately.
Try a safe open area, check foreground location and device location services, and allow time for a better reading. You control approximate versus precise permission and supported Android accuracy prompts. Do not repeatedly enable a permission you do not want; location-free photo capture remains available. See location troubleshooting.
Manual, imported, approximate, stale and mocked locations
Treat manual or imported locations as supplied context, not independently verified GPS. Approximate, stale or detected mocked readings must retain their relevant labels and limitations when you share them. Do not remove those distinctions to suggest independent verification.
Mock-location checks can recognise some situations but cannot guarantee that spoofing is impossible. More confident-looking map graphics, coordinates or stamps do not remove that limitation.
Device time and video context
Time and timezone come from the device and available context. They are not an independent timestamp authority. Manual settings and imported file metadata can be wrong.
Video location and time are fixed when recording starts. They do not describe a continuously tracked journey or the changing position of every video frame.
What originals and hashes can establish
Preserved originals and hashes can help compare files and detect content changes. They do not independently prove what happened, when it happened, where it happened, attendance, authenticity or legal admissibility. Stamped copies can include edited text and supplied context.
For important decisions, verify the information and the requirements of the receiving person or organisation. Review Terms of Use and Privacy Policy before sharing sensitive records.
Capture safely, with or without location
Do not use the camera while driving or when it distracts from safety. Obtain appropriate permission to photograph or record. You can decline location and take a photo without a location claim; missing maps or addresses should not block saving.
For help understanding a result, contact connect@matrixbreach.com. Do not routinely include exact private coordinates or an unredacted original.