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1984 Vs Today

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Sarah Runge Ms. Chacon Honors English 19 April 2024 Comparing Surveillance: 1984 vs. Today. Did you know, less than one-quarter of American smartphone users feel in control of their personal data online? Privacy and surveillance involves the balance between individual rights and social interests. Privacy refers to the right to control personal information, while surveillance involves monitoring individuals' activities. 1984 by George Orwell depicts a dystopian society where the government, through mass surveillance, controls every aspect of citizens' lives. In the modern world, advancements in technology have enabled widespread surveillance by both governments and corporations. Concerns about erosion of privacy rights and the need for …show more content…

"There's a widespread lack of trust in social media CEO's ability to handle user data responsibly, reflecting concerns over data misuse and accountability." Mcclain, Faverio, Anderson and Park. Pew Research focuses on the specifics of government surveillance in the people's trust. With this, they found out that many do not trust many social media platforms and their ability to keep personal info, personal. This lack of trust in social media's ability to protect personal information contributes to societal issues because it fuels skepticism and erodes confidence in digital platforms as safe spaces for communication and expression. The modern-day concerns about government surveillance and the erosion of privacy rights echo the same themes of surveillance and distrust depicted in 1984. This illustrates the novel's warning about the dangers of unchecked surveillance remaining relevant today. In 1984 Orwell portrays a society where trust is severely undermined by pervasive government surveillance. One notable passage illustrating this is when protagonist Winston Smith reflects on how even his own thoughts cannot be trusted, fearing they could betray him to ever-watchful Thought Police. This constant surveillance fosters an atmosphere of suspicion and paranoia among citizens, eroding any sense of genuine human connection or trust. This part in 1984 where Winston reflects on the untrustworthiness of his own thoughts correlates closely with contemporary surveillance and privacy issues, regarding the erosion of trust due to government surveillance. This profound lack of trust with Mr. Winston and his own thoughts, the surveillance and privacy issues in 1984 highlights the impact of pervasive government surveillance on trust, freedom, and individual autonomy. Winston's realization that even his thoughts are not safe leads to

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