This traffic growth, however, requires a significant outlay in online brand marketing: Fees (principally through the purchase of travel-related keywords) to Internet search engines like Google ( GOOG) and Yahoo!

FORBES: Connect

It says investigators can "request the entire database" of Internet traffic "in real time" by entering keywords, email addresses or the names of file attachments as search queries.

WSJ: Foreign Firms Helped Gadhafi Spy on Libyans

Google is saying, hey, you've given us these keywords, and new information just showed up on the internet, and we're emailing it to you.

NPR: Tips for Easing Internet Information Overload