Similarities Between 1984 And The 2023 Restrict Act

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The dystopian novel “1984” by George Orwell is a depiction of a society where individuals have been stripped of their freedom and privacy and where the government controls all aspects of people's lives. In this society, "The Party" holds all of the power over the citizens including manipulation of the language, history, and even own their thoughts. The themes of surveillance, propaganda, and government control are very relevant to the discussion of the 2023 Restrict Act. The 2023 Restrict Act is a law introduced on March 7th, 2023 that aims to restrict access to certain types of information because they are "dangerous" or "harmful" in the government's eyes. According to this act, authority powers will be broadened to keep an eye on the internet activities of citizens. The activities included would be social media posts, search histories, and even messaging apps. If it is seen fit, they would also be able to shut down websites and block content if it oversteps the law's arrangements. This act has been criticized by many news outlets and most social media due to the infringement of people's civil liberties and freedom of speech. …show more content…

In the novel's world and our own, both forms of government are looking to control and limit the information fed to their citizens. The Party in the novel uses surveillance through telescreens and the Thought Police to keep the people in their watchful eye. Likewise, the Restrict Act allows the government to have more access to monitor people's online activities to keep them from seeing information deemed