"Most of this information is what I would describe as noise," he said. "And it's so very difficult amongst all that noise to find anything that can be useful."
As for concerns that the research may invade people's privacy, analysts note that those with social networking sites control their own content.
"If you post something on the Internet for all the world to see, you shouldn't be surprised if all the world sees it," said Rebecca Jeschke, media coordinator for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which champions technological advances as empowering consumers.
Lawyers also note that the information is available to all parties.
Hirschhorn, head of Dallas-based Cathy E. Bennett & Associates and coauthor of "Blue's Guide to Jury Selection," lamented that the beauty pageant consultant he had learned so much about on the Internet was ultimately struck from the jury pool by opposing counsel. The jury nevertheless decided in his client's favor in EpicRealm vs. FriendFinder, he said, but he speculated that the award might have been higher than the $1.25 million decided by the jury if his ideal juror had been on the panel.
He said he knew why the other side wanted to bump the woman: They were doing their homework too. "Anyone who doesn't make use of [Internet searches] is bordering on malpractice."
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carol.williams@latimes.com
