XQ Image Privacy - Metadata & C2PA Removal 1.0.4

XQ Image Privacy​

Protect your members' privacy by removing hidden metadata from uploaded images.

Images may contain EXIF, GPS coordinates, camera details, timestamps, copyright information, ICC profiles, and C2PA Content Credentials that reveal private information. XQ Image Privacy is a lightweight, standalone XenForo 2.3.x add-on that removes recognized metadata from new image attachments.

Why use XQ Image Privacy?​

XenForo may remove metadata during image processing, depending partly on the Maximum attachment image dimensions setting, but unmodified uploads can retain it. XQ Image Privacy provides dedicated cleaning regardless of that setting.

Features​

• Metadata removal: Strips recognized EXIF, GPS, IPTC, XMP, creator, software, copyright, and other optional metadata.
• ICC color profiles: Removed by default, or optionally preserved for better color accuracy.
• C2PA removal: Independently removes recognized embedded Content Credentials.
• Administrator settings: Separate controls for metadata removal, ICC preservation, and C2PA removal.
• Supported formats: JPEG/JPG/JPE, PNG, WebP, and GIF.
• Attachment coverage: New images in posts, private conversations, profile posts, and profile-post comments.
• Image preservation: Retains compressed image data, orientation, transparency, and animation where possible, without unnecessary recompression.
• Lightweight: No external binaries, third-party libraries, database tables, or frontend scripts.

Cleaning occurs before final storage, whether attachments are hosted locally or through a CDN.

Works independently or with XQ Media Storage 1.0.13+, combining enabled protections by default. Media Storage 1.0.14+ supports an optional handoff that lets Image Privacy control cleaning while Media Storage handles storage.

Important limitations​

Only new supported image attachments are cleaned; existing uploads, avatars, profile banners, external images, audio, and video are excluded.

Removing ICC profiles may change colors; preserving them may retain identifying information. Some JPEG HDR enhancements may also be lost.

XenForo may independently resize, rotate, convert, or optimize images. Unknown metadata, external provenance records, and visible image content are unaffected. Complete anonymity cannot be guaranteed.

Development note: Developed with AI assistance and manually reviewed, tested, and refined on a live XenForo installation. Independent reviews, bug reports, and feedback are welcome.