AT&T Whistleblower Tells Congress of Domestic Internet Wiretapping by NSA

By Aaron Poehler

Published on November 12, 2007

In 2003, Klein discovered equipment installed at AT&T's San Francisco offices that diverted copies of all internet traffic at that location to National Security Agency data mining equipment installed in a secret room, accessible only to high-level management employees with NSA security clearance. Klein's subsequent investigation led him to believe that 15 to 20 similar sites exist in AT&T offices nationwide, including locations in San Diego, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Atlanta.

When Klein retired in 2004, he took copies of documents which revealed the equipment design of the room. According to Klein and other telecommunications specialists who have reviewed the documents, the design would allow the NSA to intercept and reroute all international and domestic communications and data through that location. In January 2006, Klein handed the documents over to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which filed them under seal as part of their ongoing class action lawsuit against AT&T.

Klein argues that the actions taken by AT&T and the NSA constitute egregious violations of privacy laws as well as the Fourth Amendment, and that lawsuits would help discourage similar actions.

President Bush has stated that he intends to veto any bill that does not include immunity for telecom companies.

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