[liberationtech] Metadata Cleanup trough File Format Convertion?

[Sandy Harris]

Fabio Pietrosanti (naif) <lists at infosecurity.ch> wrote:

> i've been thinking about the topic of metadata cleanup of files from an
> implementation point of view.
>
> Regardless the consideration whether it's something useful or not for a
> Whistleblowing platform (GlobaLeaks),

In general, it is. To be responsible, any such platform must at
least look at anything they are going to release and consider
whether some of it needs to be redacted. Metadata needs
to be considered in that process.

There are cases, though, where metadata indicating the
source of a document is critical to evaluating it. Consider
a document that purports to give US policy on targeting
for drone strikes. Does it come from a field commander?
Or Washington? Pentagon? CIA? President's office?
Or is it, say, analysis by the Pakistani government? Or
just speculation by some journalist?