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Newsletter without opening and click tracking

In order to send a newsletter, it is not necessary to assign every opening or every link click to a person. These features are additional measurements, not a technical requirement for email.

Requirements

Access to the tracking settings of the newsletter system and a test address for control mailings.

Open tracking

Open statistics typically work with an individually referenced externally loaded image. If it is loaded, a server request is created. It is more data protection-friendly to switch off this function completely instead of just ignoring the evaluation later.

Click tracking

Personalized redirect links turn a normal link into a measurable click. If the statistics are not needed, link directly to the original targets and deactivate link tracking.

What still needs to be saved

At least a delivery address and administrative data are required for a distribution list. A documented registration/confirmation process may also require verification data. This dedicated data must be separated from behavioral profiles about opens and clicks.

Test

After a test transmission, check whether opening and click events are really no longer generated in the shipping tool and which technically necessary shipping data remains stored.

Dismantling

If campaign analysis is needed again, only reactivate the specifically required tracking function and document recipient information, storage and purpose again.

Related guides

• WordPress: MailPoet without opening and click tracking
• Brevo: Anonymize opening and click tracking
• MailerLite: Deactivate Open Tracking specifically
• Mailchimp: Turn off open and click tracking

Sources and verification

This guide is based on multiple current sources. Vendor documentation is not treated as proof that every concrete installation automatically follows the same privacy characteristics.

• Mailchimp: About open tracking
• Mailchimp: About click tracking
• Mautic: Email tracking

Important: IP processing is not IP storage

An IP address has to be processed to establish and deliver a network connection. Hosting providers, firewalls or DDoS protection may also process or retain it for a limited time for security purposes. No Logging distinguishes this security layer from unnecessary persistent visitor logging by the website, application and ordinary access logs.