This is not new. Gmail has done link tracking via redirects for as long
   as I can remember. Google is always watching.

   On Aug 24, 2016 3:24 AM, "grarpamp" <[1]grarpamp@gmail.com> wrote:

     So for the past six months or so google has decided to infesting
     their
     gmail webmail with tracking redirectors on all things that look like
     links.
     To be expected, and fuck em straight to hell.
     But who else find it hilarious they chose 'usg' as the tracking
     parameter name ;)
     [2]http://www.google.com/url?q=http://<hostname>&sa=D&sntz=1&
     usg=<token>

References

   1. mailto:grarpamp@gmail.com
   2. http://www.google.com/url?q=http://