When a grocery delivery company asks for your email address, what type of tracking does this represent?

The scenario described, where a grocery delivery company requests your email address, is an example of indirect tracking. Indirect tracking occurs when a company collects data about users that is not directly tied to their identity initially but can be linked back to them through various means. By providing your email address, the company can create a unique identifier that helps them gather insights about your behavior, preferences, and interactions with their services over time.

In this case, while the email address itself is a direct piece of information, the broader context of how it is used indicates indirect tracking. The grocery delivery service can analyze patterns based on the email linked to your transactions, newsletters, or promotions, thus tracking your engagement with their services indirectly.

Other forms of tracking differ from this concept. Active tracking would involve user behavior being monitored in real-time, requiring active consent and interaction. Direct tracking typically refers to methods that involve collection of identifiable information at the point of data submission. Passive tracking is more about background data collection without user consent or awareness, often through cookies or analytics without direct user interaction, which does not directly apply in this situation.