New software launched that gives online images expiry date
German researchers have created a new software that gives images an expiration date, after which they can no longer be viewed, by tagging them with an encrypted key.
The new software, called X-pire, is designed to help people who post images that could be embarrassing at a later date, particularly on social networking sites like Facebook; which can be checked, for example, by potential employers or suspicious partners.
The encryption key implants a date. Once this date expires the image cannot be viewed or copied. The developers plan to charge a small fee for using the service which will put a digital lock on pictures.
"More and more people are publishing private data to the internet and it's clear that some things can go wrong if it stays there too long," Professor Michael Backes of the Information Security and Cryptography department at Saarland University, who led development of X-Pire told the BBC.
"Many people join social networks because of social pressure. They tend to post everything on the first day and make themselves naked on the internet."
But of course social networks never forget and images posted to sites are visible forever. To resolve this X-pire invites customers to download their browser. It means that any pictures uploaded through the browser can only be viewable by using that browser; which also automatically asks people to date stamp images they are uploading.
The program which will be available this month will cost £1.68 a month.