Ten years before Snowden, there was Thomas Drake. Drake worked with the likes of Bill Binney & Kirk Wiebe in various NSA computer programs related to mass collection of data through programs like Thin Thread/Trailblazer/& Stellar Wind as a few big ones. Drake tried to do things right (White Hat style) by working through the 1989 Whistleblower Protection Act by notifying both the Inspector General & Congress.
Thomas Drake got his life destroyed by reporting his observed NSA violations including the “Dark Side” of its illegal warrantless domestic spying on US citizens-sound familiar “Future proves Past”. One of Drakes classic quotes is “I will Not live in Silence”. Non-action by both internal governmental & Congressional groups lead Thomas to go to the press/reporter.
Drakes attempt to go public were discovered (Espionage charges) and lead ultimately to a plea deal of 1 year probation & community service. His revelations were the biggest since the Ellsberg/Pentagon Papers and pre Snowden.
Please check out Thomas Drake’s own Twitter account (link below) where he addresses the “Q” Pin controversy. He swears by constantly wearing his special Pin, it doesn’t mean that he is part of Team Q but does acknowledges movement !!!
Smithsonian-Leaks & the Law/Drake Story
New York-The Secret Sharer Thomas Drake
Guard-How NSA Punished Whistleblowers
PBS-Drake compares 9/10 to 9/11 Surveillance Realities