Note that Gmail defeats the location tracking and browser fingerprinting features by proxying all image requests. So while the read receipts do work, you are not leaking your location or your browser fingerprint to the sender even if you leave image loading on.

https://gmail.googleblog.com/2013/12/images-now-showing.html

You can turn off loading images by default on the web-based Gmail client under the general tab in settings.

It's not possible to disable loading of images on the iOS Gmail client.

There are some blocking apps for Chrome: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ugly-email/ldgiafa... https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pixelblock/jmpmfcj...

They're based on a blacklist so they don't catch all tracking pixels. And then most emails contain images I want to see and that have tracking ID's attached anyway, which is a problem that can't be solved with a blocker.

Gmail intercepts tracking pixels at Gmail's server, if you use gmail's client. The sender gets the "open" event and time, but not the client into (IP, etc)

http://go/so/20379732

You can disable loading images in Gmail, which has the same effect.