Mark Klein

Career

For over 22 years Mark Klein worked for AT&T. Starting with the company as a Communications Technician in New York, where he remained from November 1981 until March 1991, he later continued in that capacity in California until 1998. From January 1998 to October 2003, Klein worked as a Computer Network Associate in San Francisco. Starting in October 2003, he returned to the role of Communications Technician, after which he retired in May 2004.

Whistleblowing

In early 2006, Klein revealed details about AT&T's secretive cooperation with the National Security Agency (NSA) mass surveillance program. He found that the NSA was using a splitter to intercept and monitor all internet and other data traffic, which was then directed to a secure room at AT&T's facility, called Room 641A. He came across blueprints and documents outlining the technology, the program's existence, and AT&T's involvement with the NSA. He also found evidence that the program was active in other cities across the United States. This surveillance initiative followed the Patriot Act, which granted American defense and intelligence agencies broader powers after the 9/11 attacks. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) filed a lawsuit shortly afterwards.

In 2009, Klein wrote a book titled Wiring Up The Big Brother Machine...And Fighting It, in which he wrote about his experience discovering the relationship and his efforts to tell the public.

Personal life and death

Klein was predeceased by his wife, Linda Thurston. Klein died from pancreatic cancer in Oakland on March 8, 2025, at the age of 79.

Awards

In recognition of his actions, the EFF picked Klein as one of the winners of its 2008 Pioneer Awards.