Facebook Graph Search takes on Google, surfaces potentially volatile personal information

Facebook has revealed what might be its
biggest weapon against Google. The new
Graph Search tool allows users to construct
complex queries that surface information
about what users do, what they like, where
they go, and who they know. The tool can
create an elaborate stack of fi lters allowing
users to fi nd all their friends who live in a
certain area, restaurants that lots of people
like, all photos uploaded by a group of
people, or even combinations of things such
as friends who are from a certain place,
living in another place, and like something in
particular. Facebook executives including CEO
Mark Zuckerberg were quick to point out
at the launch event that only information
that person has already made public can
be surfaced in Graph Search, and is still
only visible to people it was ever visible to.
However, concerned users should once again
look through their privacy settings carefully,
since it is now much easier to fi nd sensitive
information that was inconsequential before.
A blog, actualfacebookgraphsearches.tumblr.
com, contains screenshots of potentially
compromising searches including "Employers
of people who like Racism" and "Single
women who live nearby and who are
interested in men and like Getting Drunk!".
Users can sign up for the limited rollout at
www.facebook.com/about/graphsearch.