In October 2006 after receiving an anonymous tip EFF filed a FOIA request for information related to the FBI's DCS-5000 or "Redwolf " surveillance system. The FOIA request sought information related to the use and abuse of the FBI's DCS-5000 surveillance capabilities.

When the request was filed Redwolf was the FBI's latest-generation digital collection system used to conduct surveillance. The DCS-1000 ("Carnivore") and the DCS-3000 ("Redhook") were earlier-generation digital collection systems used by the FBI.

In the summer and fall of 2010 nearly four years after EFF's request the FBI began its release of documents. In three separate productions the FBI released nearly 3 000 pages of documents out of approximately 20 000 responsive documents located by the Bureau.