George Orwell's 1984: Big Brother And The NSA
The realistic truth between George Orwell's 1984 and today's current time period is evident through both governments use of surveillance through Big Brother and the NSA. The NSA and 1984 are quite comparable in some ways. The role of Big Brother plays a huge role in George Orwell's 1984. The statement BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING is given the sense of always being watched and I feel that the statement could be compared to today's society. The people of Oceania are constantly under a state of surveillance to see if they agree with the parties sense of their society. Orwell stated and quoted in the book saying “The telescreen received and transmitted simultaneously. Any sound Winston made, above the level of a very low whisper, would be picked up by
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How often, or on what system, the Thought police plugged in on any individual wire was guesswork. It was even conceivable that they watched everybody all the time. But at any rate, they could plug into your wire whenever they wanted to.” (Orwell pg 4-5). Big Brother to us in the real world would be represented by the NSA ( National Security Agency). The NSA uses cameras, audio, web searches, and many other things to keep “tabs” on us the citizens. Cameras play a huge role in today's society, they’re used to prevent criminal activity, and to notify police about suspicious behavior. However, there is no possible way of knowing whether or not you're being watched just like in 1984. The government is in possession of tons of video always knowing where you are“Privacy, he said, was a very valuable thing. Everyone wanted a place where they could be alone occasionally.” (pg 144, 1984). In a recent interview with Edward Snowden, he said: “ you can be talking on your phone and not knowing anything the government could be recording/listening in on your phone call and not tell you anything”. He also says "A child born today will grow up with no conception of privacy at all.
How often, or on what system, the Thought police plugged in on any individual wire was guesswork. It was even conceivable that they watched everybody all the time. But at any rate, they could plug into your wire whenever they wanted to.” (Orwell pg 4-5). Big Brother to us in the real world would be represented by the NSA ( National Security Agency). The NSA uses cameras, audio, web searches, and many other things to keep “tabs” on us the citizens. Cameras play a huge role in today's society, they’re used to prevent criminal activity, and to notify police about suspicious behavior. However, there is no possible way of knowing whether or not you're being watched just like in 1984. The government is in possession of tons of video always knowing where you are“Privacy, he said, was a very valuable thing. Everyone wanted a place where they could be alone occasionally.” (pg 144, 1984). In a recent interview with Edward Snowden, he said: “ you can be talking on your phone and not knowing anything the government could be recording/listening in on your phone call and not tell you anything”. He also says "A child born today will grow up with no conception of privacy at all.