Skype for Surveillance

My initial research has turned up a wealth of articles about Skype in Library Lit. and LISTA databases. These articles mostly try to tell librarians how to bring skype to their library. It's a hot buzzword right now, but fewer long-term studies have been done on how it's actually being used. So far it seems like libraries and universities are using Skype in the following ways:

1. As a service for patrons to use to call others, cybercafe style
2. For distance learning, especially language tutoring
3. To provide video reference services

It's unclear how widespread these uses are.

I also did a Google Search for Skype and found a surprising amount of articles about surveillance and Skype's role in China. It seems Skype can be easily tapped and used for surveillance. In China, Skype handed over records of text messages to the Chinese government who looked for keywords related to political opposition.

"The Chinese government is not alone in its Internet surveillance efforts. In 2005, The New York Times reported that the National Security Agency was monitoring large volumes of telephone and Internet communications flowing into and out of the United States as part of the eavesdropping program, intended to hunt for evidence of terrorist activity, that President Bush approved after the Sept. 11 attacks." http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/02/technology/internet/02skype.html?_r=1

As someone who uses Skype a lot, I find it very disturbing that governments are using Skype for surveillance and eavesdropping on their citizens. The fact that China used it this way might not be surprising, given their history of cracking down on free speech and the opposition, but the fact that any other government could use Skype for spying is troubling. How much do I trust my own government? Will American libraries that offer Skype have to come up with "Skype spying" policies protecting their patrons and employees like they did with borrowing policies after September 11th?