This turns on the definition of "datamining." Surely scanning ostensibly private messages to update a database, even one built for innocuous purposes, especiall

This turns on the definition of "datamining." Surely scanning ostensibly private messages to update a database, even one built for innocuous purposes, especially without clear and conspicuous notice to users, is one form of it. From the H-Online.com article: A spokesman for the company confirmed that it scans messages to filter out spam and phishing websites. This explanation does not appear to fit the facts, however. Spam and phishing sites are not usually found on HTTPS pages. By contrast, Skype leaves the more commonly affected HTTP URLs, containing no information on ownership, untouched. Skype also sends head requests which merely fetches administrative information relating to the server. To check a site for spam or phishing, Skype would need to examine its content.