Open graph: tell me what you like and I'll send it over

Let me out!

There's been plenty of discussion this week on the new Facebook innovation, Open Graph, presented at F8 by Mark Zuckerberg. It offers the possibility for third party sites to use online Facebook data.

Facebook and the question of personal data is once again all over the internet. Behind the simple 'Like' button is the idea of drawing up a targeted profile based on the likes and interests of the user. Mark Zuckerberg obviously puts his own very positive slant on it: For Example, now if you like a band on Pandora, that information can become part of the graph so that later if you visit a concert site, the site can tell you when the band you like is coming to your area. Oh yeah, cool, but somehow not everyone is at ease with the idea.

Use of data

Exploitation of personal user data is certainly a question that has some people worried. This data is gold dust for brands looking to target their advertising. Thanks to Facebook, a veritable social graph may be drawn up to centralise data through "Like" links on various associated sites. Any partner site will then have access to this information, not for a limited period but for as long as they like! The information collected by sites with the "Like" button can then assembled along with your Facebook profile that forms the centre of this database.

Facebook to rule supreme

If this project is adopted, the site will soon be on a whole new financial footing and will be in total control of a peerless worldwide database. All powerful holder of data on the tastes and habits of billions of individuals. We're often critical of internet surveillance systems and yet we might do well to ask a few questions with respect to what is happening here under cover of fun and interaction with friends. Don't forget that anything put online on Facebook can be made public and used commercially, whatever your settings.



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