I've found Flipboard to be well-behaved and responsible.
Occasionally, the "CultureDesk" will boost me but usually, it's a post that is already making traction.
I also believe the accounts they follow from are human curated, so, in that sense, they are being followed by a "person" and not a machine.
As far as privacy, it is the same level of privacy the user has whether it is you, me or some random person on the Fediverse.
People have strong feelings about them, though.