Proton Mail introduces Tracking Links Protection to enhance email privacy on their web app

Proton, the company behind the security and privacy-focused email provider Proton Mail, has announced the introduction of Tracking Links Protection on their web app. This new feature aims to enhance user privacy by removing known tracking parameters from links embedded in emails.

Tracking links are commonly used by organizations to monitor which emails are read, what links are clicked, and how users engage with marketing campaigns. This data can then be used to personally identify users, profile their behavior, and track activity across various apps and websites.

Proton Mail's Tracking Links Protection feature, which is enabled by default, removes these tracking parameters. This addition is a continuation of Proton's privacy-focused ethos, as Proton Mail already blocks tracking pixels used by email senders to monitor user activity.

To effectively implement this feature, Proton has developed a blocklist of known tracking parameters. This list is compiled from both internal sources and external, community-supported resources. As a result, Proton Mail is equipped to block not only Universal Tracking Markers (UTM) but also other custom parameters employed by advertising companies.