Facebook takes on Google with new search engine - 'Graph Search'

Facebook has dramatically overhauled its search service to allow people to search for information and pictures posted by their friends - as well as public posts from everyone else on Facebook.

The new 'Graph Search' service allows users to search photos, people, and connections, and find places their friends have recommended.

However, experts have warned the social network to 'tread carefully' with user privacy - even though Facebook claims its new service is 'privacy aware'

Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg said it is 'not web search’ - but the firm has partnered with Microsoft's Bing search engine in a snub to Google, which has its own social network, Google+.

Called Graph Search, the new Facebook service uses ‘intelligent’ interpretation to allow you to find friends by interest, for example Facebook suggests typing in text such as 'Friends who like Star Wars and Harry Potter' for planning a film night.

‘You need to be able to ask the query, like, who are my friends in San Francisco,' said Mr Zuckerberg.

He also confirmed the firm planned to add its other services, including Instagram, to the service.

'Instagram data is on the list of things we will one day get to,' he said.

'It's so clear how much stuff out there you'd want to have in a product like this.'

While the new search engine does not search the web, it intensifies Facebook's battle with Google+, the search giant's social network.

It will also allow the firm to improve its personalised advertisements by finding out more about what users want to do - what kind of films they want to see, for instance.

The firm was quick to address privacy concerns over the new service, saying: 'We’ve built Graph Search from the start with privacy in mind, and it respects the privacy and audience of each piece of content on Facebook.