Partiful Fixes Photo GPS Data Exposure Risking User Privacy

Partiful, a rapidly growing social event planning app acclaimed as the "best app" of 2024 by Google and ranking #9 in the iOS Lifestyle category, has become a popular alternative to Facebook for sending party invitations. The app allows users to create stylish, retro-themed invitations and track RSVPs, evolving into a social network that maps extensive user connections and activities. However, concerns have arisen over Partiful's data privacy and security practices, particularly after investigations revealed the app failed to strip location metadata from user-uploaded photos, potentially exposing precise GPS coordinates of users' homes or workplaces. This vulnerability, discovered by TechCrunch, allows anyone with basic technical knowledge to access unedited profile photos stored on Partiful's backend, posing significant privacy risks. Further apprehensions stem from the founders' ties to Palantir, a data analytics company linked to the Trump administration's immigration enforcement, prompting calls for boycotts. These issues highlight the growing scrutiny over Partiful's handling of sensitive user data amidst its surging popularity.