Just a few days ago, Mark Klein, a dedicated telecommunications technician for AT&T for over 22 years, passed away. Klein is remembered for his courage, particularly among those passionate about privacy rights and the risks of government surveillance. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a nonprofit organization advocating for civil liberties in the digital space, honored Klein for his impactful revelations about government surveillance programs.
Though Klein never intended to be a whistleblower, his decision to expose a covert NSA surveillance initiative has made him a significant figure in the ongoing fight for privacy. For most of his career at AT&T, primarily in San Francisco, Klein was simply doing his job until he realized he was unwittingly involved in something alarming. In late 2005, the New York Times broke the story about the NSA’s unauthorized domestic surveillance.
This revelation prompted Klein to make crucial connections regarding his own experiences. Upon retiring in early 2006, he sought out the EFF with a pivotal question: “Do you folks care about privacy?”
Klein’s disclosures dramatically changed public perception of mass surveillance. He had first-hand knowledge of a secret NSA-controlled room, known as Room 641A, located within AT&T’s San Francisco facility.
His role involved connecting internet circuits to optical splitters that diverted all data through AT&T networks directly into the NSA’s possession. Such setups were not confined to San Francisco but replicated in various major cities. Klein backed his claims with over a hundred pages of internal documents from AT&T, including detailed schematics.
He shared this critical information with journalists, EFF, and members of Congress. His bravery was recognized by Senator Chris Dodd in a Senate address. Klein’s evidence formed the basis of legal actions aimed at challenging the extensive surveillance practices he highlighted.
Despite facing potential legal repercussions from AT&T, Klein remained steadfast in his advocacy for transparency and accountability. Although Congress and the courts did not significantly curtail mass surveillance efforts, Klein is celebrated for his role in exposing government overreach. May he rest in peace.