Privacy & Apple Mail Privacy Protection (MPP)
Many email services protect the recipient's privacy, which affects how reliable read receipts are. Here is an honest overview.
Apple Mail Privacy Protection (MPP)
Apple Mail can preload images — including tracking pixels — through a proxy, whether or not the recipient has actually opened the email. This means an email may be recorded as "opened" even if the recipient never read it, or the true time and location may be hidden.
Other privacy filters
Several email services and extensions block or proxy tracking pixels. The result is that either no open is recorded, or it is recorded incorrectly.
Bottom line: read receipts are useful as a rough indication, but they are not precise and should never be used as proof that someone has read — or not read — an email. Treat them as a hint, nothing more.
Respect the recipient
Tracking is a tool, not a given. Use it with good judgment and turn it off when it's not needed.
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