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Mark Klein, Whistleblower Who Exposed NSA Internet Surveillance, Dies at 79

The former AT&T technician revealed the NSA's mass data collection program years before Edward Snowden's disclosures.

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This 2006 photo shows one of the entrances to the “secret room” at AT&T’s office on Folsom Street in San Francisco. The photo is part of a document provided to Wired News by Mark Klein, the star witness in a case brought against AT&T by the Electronic Frontier Foundation. 
Screenshots: PBS
This 2006 photo shows one of the entrances to the “secret room” at AT&T’s office on Folsom Street in San Francisco. The photo is part of a document provided to Wired News by Mark Klein, the star witness in a case brought against AT&T by the Electronic Frontier Foundation. 

Overview

  • Mark Klein, a retired AT&T technician, exposed the NSA's use of secret facilities to monitor vast amounts of U.S. internet traffic in 2006.
  • Klein's revelations detailed how optical splitters at AT&T hubs copied internet data into secure NSA-controlled rooms, such as Room 641A in San Francisco.
  • His disclosures supported lawsuits against AT&T and the NSA, though these efforts were ultimately dismissed after Congress granted immunity to telecom companies in 2008.
  • Klein's actions preceded and inspired further whistleblowing, including Edward Snowden's 2013 revelations of mass surveillance programs.
  • Klein passed away on March 8, 2025, at age 79 from pancreatic cancer, leaving a legacy of exposing government overreach and advocating for privacy rights.