Google has confirmed the acquisition of FeedBurner. FeedBurner is a Chicago-based company that provides media distribution and audience engagement services for blogs and RSS feeds. Its Web-based tools, including an extensive feed and blog advertising network, help publishers promote, deliver, and monetize their content on the Web and make feed-based content more accessible and manageable for its end users. With the acquisition by Google, it is expected that Google services e.g, AdWords will be integrated into FeedBurner (refer to the FeedBurner-Google FAQ).

Google has a long-standing commitment to protecting the privacy of users’ personal information. FeedBurner users can expect the same high standards of privacy protection following this acquisition. We believe that notice and choice are the foundations of privacy. As such, we are committed to transparency for our end users, and to respecting the choices they make with regards to their privacy preferences. The transition to Google’s privacy policy and the opt-out mechanism we are providing for current FeedBurner users will help us achieve these goals.

Now FeedBurner users are given a choice to opt-out of allowing Google to service your account. Users are advised to do so by June 15th 2007. Below is the notification from FeedBurner that can be found at the login page:

NOTE: Service of FeedBurner publisher accounts will not be interrupted as a result of the acquisition by Google. You will have a 14-day interim period ending June 15, 2007 to opt-out of allowing Google to service your account. If you take no action by June 15, 2007, the rights to your data will transfer from FeedBurner to Google. Opting out will terminate your user agreement with FeedBurner, permanently delete your FeedBurner account, feeds, and all related statistical data and history, and prevent the transfer of your data rights to Google. To opt-out, contact us via accountx@feedburner.com, provide your FeedBurner account Username, and request to have your FeedBurner account deleted. We will contact you at your registered email address to confirm your deletion request before completing it.

So the question is whether you trust Google or not. If you are a Google fan, then it is still alright for Google to collect information about your RSS subscribers. If not, then you can always opt-out. Hey, if you love this post, please subscribe to my feed. I am sure you trust Google, right?!