Former CIA Data Contractor Reveals 17 Months in Solitary Confinement

What was said

"I encrypted data for the governments and, well, for everybody, and a lot of government contacts and, contacts who were using it. And I decided that I didn't like what was happening, so I basically said the government's spying on you, which everybody kind of knows at this point. And then I was well aware of that. Yeah, but back then nobody was in 2005, and CIA, and they came in full force."

Gary Lineham disclosed that he spent 17 months in solitary confinement after encrypting data for government contacts and blowing the whistle on government surveillance in 2005. He was given two indictments, including as a drug dealer conspiracy because clients used his encrypted BlackBerrys for illegal activity. This revelation provides insider context on early government surveillance programs and the consequences faced by those who exposed them.