I have just lost some time (too much !) before acknowledging that the Gallery app removes geolocation exif tags when sharing the pics.
The tags were in the pics. I could solve the problem by sharing with the file app.
If it is for privacy, it should be an option !
My phone is a FP5, although I don’t think it is relevant.
Most sharing apps will reduce images in some way. In many cases the image also has reduced resolution. The app’s support pages will likely give details.
I would not expect the drop of Geo location exif to be specific to /e/OS, but I have no experience.
You could test by email, I do not remember any loss / adjustment of exif with my ISP.
what was the sharing target? I wonder where in the code exif tag removal is done. Doesn’t look to me like it happens inside gallery2d. Instead either in the sharing type or rather in the target App?
I use tailscale for sharing. I have used it also when sharing with file app and it was ok. I had the same results by sharing via email.