WONG:
Skype, the online chat software company owned by eBay, was forced to apologize after a team of Canadian researchers found that its security had been breached.
According to Citizen Lab, which is based at the University of Toronto and researches internet censorship, millions of conversations and chats were being stored in computer banks operated by Skype's Chinese partner TOM Online Inc. TOM produces TOM-Skype, the version of Skype available in China.

Apparently, TOM-Skype contains a filter that collects and stores text messages that contain certain keywords, like Falun Gong, Taiwan independence, melamine, milk powder, and Chinese Communist Party. It also allows China's internet police to collect people's usernames, IP address, and other personal data.

Skype spokeswoman Jennifer Caukin responded to the Citizen Lab investigation by downplaying the findings, saying it's not surprising that, "the Chinese government might be monitoring communications in and out of the country."

The secret information gathering goes against Skype's privacy policy, and has caused a backlash against the company--both inside and outside of China.