How email tracking works behind the scenes

9 months ago

Phone numbers can reveal location, carrier, and availability based on call timing.
Caller ID was initially controversial for privacy invasion concerns.
Email tracking uses hidden images (tracking pixels) to gather recipient data like location, device, and reading habits.
Tracking pixels raise privacy concerns similar to Caller ID, debated since their introduction in the 1990s.
GDPR requires consent for tracking pixels in the EU, making sneak tracking illegal.
Email services like Gmail and Apple Mail block or proxy tracking pixels, reducing their effectiveness.
Plain-text emails have better deliverability than HTML emails with tracking pixels.
Buttondown keeps tracking off by default and allows recipients to opt out.
Blocking remote images in email apps can prevent tracking by senders.

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