Mass Government Surveillance in Everyday Life in 1984
Many people have had suspicions about technology giving confidential information to the government. Surveillance has been a controversial issue for a long time and still to this day, many people have not been able to have the privacy of their own and are controlled. In the book 1984 by George Orwell, gives insight into this problem throughout society. People in Oceania are monitored by telescreens, closely to the point where they cannot express any individualism.
In the book 1984, it explains the purpose of a device called the “telescreen.” Telescreens are multi-functional television that shows propaganda to its citizens and take glimpses of anyone that has the feeling of rebellion to reach their set goals in society. People in the city have dealt with the fact that the government is observing them 24/7. The book describes how “It was even conceivable that they watched everybody all the time. But at any rate they could plug in your wire whenever they wanted to. You had to live—did live, from habit that became instinct—in assumption that every sound you made was overheard, and, except in darkness, every movement scrutinized”. The quote shows the main character, Winston, describes a world that seems gloomy and manipulating that he lives in and how every noise and action could be observed. In modern times, surveillance has caused people to become miserable simply because of an action against society. The character, Winston, commits one of the crimes by simply just expressing how he feels. “He could not help feeling a twinge of panic. It was absurd since the writing of those particular words was not more dangerous than the initial act of opening the diary”. This is significant because it displays the authority the government has over the thoughts expressed in one individual. It also gives insight to how there is little to no freedom in their society.
In today’s world, surveillance is a major problem among people. Surveillance has led to problems about privacy with unlawful groups going through information without a warrant. In the article, “The NSA Continues to Violate Americans' Internet Privacy Rights”, The Government has a strong statement on what they utilize for surveillance is only for outsiders not Americans. A specific report from Brooklyn has altered the face of technology that is being used by the government. The government made an accusation towards a man that was giving information out to an organization that could cause potential harm to the United States of America. After the trial, the man was pleaded guilty, but the government admitted to going through his private information without his knowledge. When given that amount of access to information that is confidetial, it could be used in the wrong idea. In 1984, surveillance is used to control society and having much power against the citizens of Oceania. Programs that have not been authorized have also infiltrated privacy towards many people as well. “The unconstitutional surveillance program at issue is called PRISM, under which the NSA, FBI, and CIA gather and search through Americans’ international emails, internet calls, and chats without obtaining a warrant”. Agencies like the NSA, the FBI, the CIA work for the government and have a job which is similarly like how the Party in 1984 pays close attention toward its citizens.
Even in homes they live in, people do not notice anything about the high-tech devices they have installed in their homes. The company, Amazon, has made a device called “Alexa”, which has a built-in microphone and speakers. Alexa’s purpose is to help find information about things that you are curious about and the device records everything when it is being used. It also keeps track and listens to what’s going on around its surroundings. In the book, 1984 by George Orwell, telescreens are used to trail their citizens in their daily life. The device, Alexa, are popular among technology for homes and are used daily. These devices have microphones that are complex which allows the Party to listen to its citizens to see what is happening. Many big companies are knowing personal things that they should not know about. In order for the device [Alexa] to become more efficient, employees must pay attention to the recordings that the device has documented. Employees also have information about where the device is addressed to. People that work for the company, Amazon, have knowledge about things that they should have not known about and in the worst cases, it could potentially be shared and ruin a person’s outlook.
In conclusion, today’s society is much like turning into the book 1984, by George Orwell. Surveillance has been a predicament topic considering these reasons as it suppresses the individuality that one person holds and creates fear. Surveillance is a powerful tool that could manipulate citizens of a city or country to doing almost anything. Programs have access to private information on people which they do not have knowledge about it, and with devices that people have placed in their homes could ultimately invade their privacy. In the book 1984 by George Orwell, people are controlled completely by the government and surveillance is what gives the government authority. As of the current time, the world is living a similar society as in one mentioned in the book 1984, by George Orwell.
Works Cited
- Fowler, Geoffrey A. “Alexa Has Been Eavesdropping on You This Whole Time.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 6 May 2019, www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/05/06/alexa-has-been-eavesdropping-you-this-whole-time/.
- Orwell, George. 1984. Published by Signet Classic, 1977.
- Toomey, Patrick. “The NSA Continues to Violate Americans' Internet Privacy Rights.” American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union, 23 Aug. 2018, https://www.aclu.org/blog/national-security/privacy-and-surveillance/nsa-continues-violate-americans-internet-privacy.
