Mobile Tracking Headers and Privacy Concerns

This report is a comprehensive analysis of mobile tracking headers and their implications for user privacy. It outlines the widespread use of tracking headers by telecommunications companies across various countries, including the United States, Canada, and India. The report presents findings from nearly 180,000 tests conducted using the tool Amibeingtracked.com, revealing that 15.3% of users were being tracked. It details how tracking headers operate, their historical context, and the types of information they can leak, raising significant privacy concerns. The report also discusses the inability of users to block these headers, as they are injected at the network level by carriers. Furthermore, it highlights the potential risks associated with tracking headers, including exposure to criminal exploitation and government surveillance. The report concludes with recommendations for regulators, carriers, and users to enhance privacy protections against tracking technologies.