The Associated Press obtained documents detailing how the FBI scurried last year to prove it wasn't "randomly looking at everyone's e-mail" once its Web surveillance practices came under attack

Within the documents it was discovered that the FBI monitor Internet communications 13 times using its controversial "Carnivore" system and 11 times using a similar device "etherpeek". The monitoring occurred over a 10 month period ending August 2000.

Carnivore is a software program for monitoring Internet traffic (e-mails, Web pages, chat room conversations and other signals) going to or from a suspect under investigation.

Etherpeek is a commercially available network monitoring program that is far less precise in filtering information

Civil liberties groups argue that Carnivore puts ordinary citizens at risk.

The FBI 2002 budget request includes more than $13 million for Internet surveillance, an increase of $2.5 million.

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