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Google runs an URL shortening service called goo.gl. It also runs an RSS feed service, technology purchased with FeedBurner. Both of these services are widely used on the web.

Over the weekend, goo.gl started blocking all URLs generated by FeedBurner. That meant all links used in FeedBurner feeds suddenly started showing scary-looking alerts instead of linked content.

Given Google’s history of creating useful services, waiting until they’re widely-used, then killing them off, you’d be excused for assuming that this is just the latest installment of the ‘Google rug pull‘. But according to Google, the problem was simply the result a mistake. Regardless, the cause was identified and rectified within a few days, but not before some users (including the technology blog Techdirt) switched to competing services.