Whether an email’s original sender is notified when their message is forwarded is a frequent concern. The default behavior of email systems is generally that no such notification is sent. Forwarding an email creates a new message, addressed to a different recipient. It is akin to photocopying a physical letter and sending it to someone else; the original sender would have no way of knowing. This inherent privacy is part of the established framework of email communication.
Understanding this characteristic of email is crucial for maintaining confidentiality and managing expectations regarding information dissemination. It highlights the recipient’s control over the message once received. Awareness of this function helps users gauge the appropriate level of sensitivity when sending electronic correspondence. Prior to the widespread adoption of email, physical mail possessed the same characteristic: the sender had no direct knowledge of to whom the recipient might show or share the letter.
