NSA whistleblowers to speak at WCU

WEST CHESTER Two prominent whistle-blowers involved in the controversy surrounding surveillance by the National Security Agency will speak at West Chester University on Wednesday.

Bill Binney and Thomas Drake, both former executives with that agency, plan to discuss their views on the collection of personal data by the NSA as well as the risk taken by those who expose wrongdoings and violations of the law, according to a release from the university.

Binney worked for the NSA for nearly 40 years as a crypto-mathematician and led a team of analysts in creating an information processing system that could analyze data while protecting American's privacy, according to the release. He spoke out about the NSA's use of a different system and continued to be critical of the agency after his retirement.

Drake worked as a senior executive with the NSA, where he spoke out about fraud as well as loss of 9/11 intelligence. He is the 2011 recipient of the Ridenhour Truth-Telling Prize.

The event is free and open to the public. It will take place from noon to 2 p.m. in the Sykes Student Union on West Rosedale Avenue.

- Tricia L. Nadolny