Using tracking slotxo technology "Invisible" in email is now "local," according to demand traffic analysis messaging service.Hey's review indicates that two thirds of the emails sent to the user's personal account have "Spy pixels", although spam is excluded.The manufacturers say many of the biggest brands use email pixels, except for "big technology" companies.The follower's defender said it was a common marketing tactic.And a number of related companies noted that use of the technology is referred to in its broader privacy policy.

Email pixels can be used to record:If and when the emailwas opened How many times open What devices or devices are involved?The user's approximate physical location is inferred from their Internet Protocol (IP) address - in some cases, the road to which the recipient is located.This information can then be used to determine the impact of specific email campaigns as well as to enter information in a more detailed customer profile.Hey co-founder David Heinemeier Hansson said they "Invasion of privacy in a strange way"And other experts also question whether companies are as transparent as required by law regarding their use.

Invisible beacons

Typically the tracking pixels are. GIF or .PNG, as small as 1x1 pixel, will be inserted into the header, footer, or body of the email.As it often shows the color of the content below, it is not visible to the naked eye even if you know where to look The recipient does not need to click the link or do anything to activate it other than opening the embedded email.British Airways, TalkTalk, Vodafone, Sainsbury's, Tesco, HSBC, Marks & Spencer, Asos and Unilever are among the UK brands found to be working.

But their use has become more widespread, although many members are unaware of it, Hansson said.It's not like the flag" This email has spy pixels. "In most email software," he added.Hey, there is a facility like this. But users have to pay an annual subscription fee. Alternatively, users can install free plugins in other email programs to cut off a large number of pixel trackers, or simply set the software to block all images by default.

On average, every Hey customer receives 24 emails a day trying to spy on them," Hansson said.The first 10% of users get more than 50.We're processing over a million emails a day, and we're just a small service compared to the likes of Gmail, but that's north of the 600,000 spying attempts blocked every day.

Follow-up phone

Tracking pixels are a standard feature of automated email services used by businesses big and small, and in many cases the facility is difficult to turn off.Two years ago, consumer-focused email client Superhuman tried to expand its use to the public as its own default feature. But on the contrary, after the public complaintThat has little impact on the marketing industry's continued dependence on technology.Customers can use it to track the number of emails in a particular campaign they open as a whole, as well as automatically stop sending ignored messages to customers.

But the Princeton University study also indicates that the information it collects is sometimes linked to user cookies. This keeps individual email addresses tied to broader browsing habits, even when moving from one device to another.As a result, a link between identity and web profile is believed to be "anonymous" web tracking.The trackers can also lead to personal follow-ups.Especially to salespeople or consultants they can go: 'I saw you opened the email yesterday But you still haven't responded Can i call '' 'Mr Hansson said.And in some cases, they immediately argue when they see you open it three times. But still didn't reply "

Privacy law

Use of tracking pixels is regulated in the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe by the Privacy and Electronic Communications (Pecr) Regulation of 2003 and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of 2016.They want organizations to notify their recipients about the pixels, and in most cases, their consent.A privacy advisor said the European Court of Justice (CJEU) had ruled that such consent must "It is not ambiguous" and "it is a clear affirmative action"To put something in the privacy notice It is not consensual and is almost non-transparent, ”said Privacy Matters' Pat Walshe.The fact that tracking takes place and what it relates to should be in the user's face and relevant to opt-in.The law is clear enough. All we need is law enforcement, just because this practice widespread doesn't mean it is right and acceptable.