THEY SEE YOUR PHOTOS

The report, published at theyseeyourphotos.com, documents how photos uploaded to social media and other services are systematically gathered and processed. Researchers found that images are often retained, indexed, and used for purposes beyond their original sharing context. Key findings include: - Photos persist in databases long after deletion - Facial recognition and metadata extraction occur routinely - Data brokers aggregate images from multiple sources - Users have limited visibility into these practices The investigation generated significant discussion on Hacker News, with 93 comments and 108 points, indicating strong interest in the privacy implications. The report does not identify specific platforms but suggests the practice is widespread across the industry. Researchers recommend users review privacy settings and understand that image sharing carries persistent consequences. The findings underscore growing concerns about digital privacy and data retention practices.