Superhuman Ends Email Location Tracking After Privacy Backlash
Superhuman officially removes location logging from its email app and makes read receipts an opt-in feature following intense community criticism over privacy concerns.
Superhuman takes significant steps to address privacy concerns by completely removing location logging from its invite-only email service. The company deletes all previously recorded location data and updates its app interface so that users no longer see recipient locations. These immediate changes follow widespread criticism sparked by a blog post from former Twitter design executive Mike Davidson.
In addition to ending location tracking, Superhuman turns off its controversial read receipt feature by default. Users who want to know when their emails are opened now have to manually opt into this tracking functionality. However, the people receiving these tracked emails still do not have a way to consent to or block the read receipts themselves.
The startup also introduces an option to disable remote image loading, which helps block incoming tracking pixels from other senders. Founder Rahul Vohra explains that the company takes a few days to carefully consider the backlash before implementing these product changes, noting that this thoughtful response represents exactly how healthy tech industry debates should function.