Google To Index Facebook Comments As Search Results

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — If you're finding it tough to stay off of Facebook, you may soon find it even harder to keep your words off of Google.

The Internet's most popular — and powerful — search engine will soon expand its search index to include user comments on Facebook as part of Google's traditional search results.

While private users will still be protected, any comments made on Facebook forms on other websites or public pages within the social networking site will be indexed and open for all the world to see.

The controversial change comes as Google looks to expand its reach to any user content currently hiding from its all-seeing search robots — usually in comment systems like the one used on Facebook and other popular sites.

While Google has pledged to take "precautions to avoid performing any task on a site that could result in executing an unintended user action," not everyone is cheering its latest indexing tool.

Developers are concerned that the new effort could disrupt confidence for users who may feel uncomfortable leaving comments on their respective websites without revealing them to Google -- and the rest of the Web community.

In:
• Google