San Francisco, California – Mark Klein, a former AT&T telecommunications technician, passed away, leaving behind a legacy of courage and commitment to privacy. Klein risked his own safety to expose a massive spying program by the National Security Agency (NSA) that violated the rights of millions of Americans. What started as a sense of right and wrong for Klein turned into a mission to hold the government accountable and protect the privacy of individuals.
Klein’s journey began in 2005 when he realized the NSA was conducting surveillance within the U.S. He knew he had crucial information about the program’s operations, and despite being newly retired, he felt compelled to take action. Approaching the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) in 2006, Klein shared his findings about a secret room at AT&T’s central office in San Francisco known as Room 641A. Inside this room, data flowing through Internet circuits was copied and delivered to the NSA.
The authenticity of Klein’s claims was supported by over a hundred pages of AT&T schematic diagrams and tables. He not only shared this information with EFF but also with the media, Congressional staffers, and senators like Chris Dodd, who hailed Klein as a hero. Klein’s bravery shed light on government surveillance practices that infringed on the privacy rights of Americans and sparked a national conversation about accountability and transparency in intelligence operations.
Beyond his technical expertise, Klein’s actions underscored the importance of individuals standing up against violations of privacy and civil liberties. His legacy serves as a reminder of the power of one person’s determination to make a difference in society. As we reflect on Klein’s contributions, we honor his memory by continuing to advocate for privacy protections and government accountability in the digital age.