If you already think social networks give you a bit more information than you want about some people, TrueScoop’s new Facebook application might make you cringe. It’s completely free public records search, a service that lots of websites charge for, usually so potential employers can do background checks. But now, that information is in everyone’s hands, ready to expose your embarrassing run-ins with the law and financial missteps.
The application itself is essentially just a search tool – enter someone’s name and see a listing of their traffic stops, places lived, and rulings against them – like owing money to someone. There is also a listing of the most popular searches conducted with the application, which, not surprisingly, includes lots of celebrities like Anderson Cooper and Kobe Bryant. When you do a search, it’s broadcast to Facebook’s News Feed.
How accurate are the results? It’s hard to say, though the application did a good job of identifying my numerous traffic violations in the Commonwealth of Virginia (though it missed a few from other states!). Perhaps someone with a bit more of an exotic criminal record can let us know anonymously how well the application does at finding dirt in the comments.