Are We Living in 1984? In 1948 Eric Blair, more commonly known by his alias George Orwell, wrote a compelling novel that told the disturbing tale of what was to come in the future, 1984. This novel had quite an effect on the world. Readers throughout the ages have developed mixed emotions after reading the novel, ranging from writing off the novel to hatred towards our government. Many readers dismiss the novel as a piece of fiction that has no bearing to today’s society. However, people should not dismiss the novel, for 1984 has already begun and is far worse and more intricate than Orwell could have ever thought possible. The technology of today is a great tool, however placed in the wrong hands can prove fatal. Technology left in the wrong hands can be a weapon of mass destruction, or even worse, mass control. In 1984, Orwell depicts a world in which people are controlled through consistent …show more content…
In the case of U.S.A. v. Manuel Cuevas Perez circuit Judge Wood said “They made the system that George Orwell depicted in his novel, 1984, seem clumsy and avoidable by comparison.” This quote states that the system of surveillance conceived by Orwell is not comparable to what the Government is capable of. Today companies use systems to monitor their property and their employees. Recently Edward Snowden, leaked the 41-slide document that showed the National Security Agency’s involvement in the PRISM program. PRISM is a program run by the NSA which allows them to collect immense amount of data from any internet service provider. The program allows the NSA to access servers of any “major” provider to collect data. Providers such as: YouTube, Google, Apple, Skype, and many others. Newly invented Smart TV’s have been shown to record any conversations had in front of the television and relay it back to the company. The type of surveillance in George Orwell’s 1984 has not just passed, but has blown away his assumptions of what was to