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ZDNET's key takeaways
50 major US retailers sent 42B marketing emails in 28 days.
80% used tracking pixels to monitor clicks, devices, and location.
Proton Mail calls the tactics "an engineered assault on privacy."
A new Proton Mail report has found that retailers across the US are using every trick in the book to grab your attention over the holiday period -- and some of their practices are invading your privacy.
Proton Mail's Spam Watch
According to Proton Mail's new research, "Spam Watch: The US Inbox Overload + Hidden Tracker Report," 80% of US retailers now embed tracking technology in their marketing emails.
Using a controlled Proton Mail inbox, the team captured every email sent by the largest US retailers (with physical locations) from Nov. 4 to Dec. 1. Each marketing email was linked to its timestamp, sender, subject line, and any embedded tracking links or pixels. The emails were then collated with public data on customer volume, including loyalty membership counts and benchmarks.
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