Telecommunications technician and AT&T whistleblower Mark Klein is in Washington D.C. this week, meeting with journalists and congressional staffers to speak out against legislation that aims to immunize lawbreaking telecoms by halting cases like EFF's class-action lawsuit against AT&T. The New York Times and the Washington Post have both published articles after interviewing him about his discoveries while working at AT&T.

The New York Times article focuses on the timeline of events fleshed out by his testimony, from the National Security Agency (NSA) hiring for a special job at an AT&T facility in 2002, to the eventual exposure of the NSA's eavesdropping program in December 2005. Moreover, the article covers Klein's role in light of the political battle being fought in Washington, as key leaders in Congress, under pressure by the Bush administration and its allies, consider blanket immunity for the telecoms.

The Washington Post article covers Klein's first-hand observations, explaining in detail the implications of the chilling things Klein saw while working for AT&T, including the building of a secret, NSA-controlled room in an AT&T office and related schematics featuring splitters that copy light signals being transferred across fiber-optic cables.

On Wednesdsay, Klein will speak at a press event that will also feature EFF Legal Director Cindy Cohn, and network systems and infrastructure expert Brian Reid, who will explain how the infrastructure that Mr. Klein helped install likely fits into and facilitates the massive warrantless surveillance program.

Video of the press event in Washington D.C. can be streamed live from 10:30 to 11 a.m. EST (7:30 to 8 a.m. PST)

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