1984 George Orwell Violation Of Privacy

A dystopia in which even the most minute details of human life are monitored by the government entraps Winston Smith in George Orwell’s 1984. Such a society seems so distant and impossible, yet instills a degree of discomfort in modern-day readers. With the current rate at which technology is advancing, many realities in Winston’s world are quickly becoming realities in the everyday lives of today. Constant surveillance is an undeniable violation of privacy globally and a Constitutional violation for those in the United States of America. Telescreens in 1984 are constantly watching the actions of everyone in Oceania, even in the “privacy” of their own homes (Orwell). Going anywhere without the possibility of being watched and recorded by the government is simply an impossibility for Winston. Much like these telescreens, cities throughout America have cameras on every corner watching …show more content…
One prevalent theory suggests that every television could potentially house a small camera that never shuts down. Although just a theory with no tangible evidence to support itself, technologically, such devices would pose no challenge. The mere possibility of a world where the government can easily see all activities of all times of the day is enough to set off alarming bells. Devices such as cell phones also have great potential to be the catalyst of a 1984-esque society. As the article, “That’s No Phone. That’s My Tracker” points out, the government is already exploiting the extensive usage of cell phones to gather data (Peter, Rajagopalan). Such projects as the Patriot Act and PRISM that grant the government unprecedented access to cellular data without consent pose a serious threat to the free world as it is known today. Certainly a day when the government will begin to invade the camera feeds of cell phones is just around the corner at the rate society is currently