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Are geotag-overlayed pictures ok?
LukeAllStars-ING
Posts: 4,622 Ambassador
Is it possible to submit a picture like this one as a supporting picture of dies that getting rejected cause of 3rd party? It is for the supporting picture only, the main picture would be a normal picture.
(The picture is from the geotag-app)
Answers
I've seen both arguments made. Personally, I wouldn't submit like that. I wouldn't reject for that, but I also know some people might be turned off by that. I don't think it would be a valid rejection, though.
I've also seen somebody taking a photo of a GPS or second phone showing your current location, if that's an option. Or a map that shows its location.
It would be a perfect proove for the location. why doesnt Nia make use of such a feature to decrease the fake rate?
They ask for photos with the geotag in the background data for appeals. I really wish they could implement something like that for new nominations that checks to make sure the photo was taken within x meters of where the nomination is being placed. It could obviously still be worked around, but it would make me more confident when approving trail markers, etc, with no discernable location.
Think from the other side:
All that I see is a picture that has been taken previously (not a photo taken within the app) with a text overlay.
How do I know that the text really represents the correct coordinates of that photo or is just random text?
It is still easily fakeable, thats right. But everything is easily fakeable sadly. I am still trying to figure out, how to get a 100% location proove. It is pretty sad to see, that 100% POIs are getting rejected because of mismatched location, because it is not seeable from the satelite view.
Aren't we supposed to use photosoheres in cases when submitting a POI that is not readily verified through existing Google maps?
You're not "supposed" to, it's just an option. Reviewers are "supposed" to rate 3 stars for location if they can't verify the location but it seems plausible (like a nature sign under tree cover in a park). But that doesn't mean they do so consistently, so it's often suggested by Wayfarer users to add a photosphere to help the nomination get through the system (to my knowledge, Niantic employees have never commented one way or another on photospheres). And of course it's also worth noting that locations of photospheres can be faked.
Since I saw what happened in Germany with fake information signs and power boxes, everything where the location is not prooveable is getting a 1* location mismatch... And most wayfarers from germany are doing the same