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Examples Of Government Surveillance In 1984 By George Orwell

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Surveillance 1984

Government surveillance is a controversial topic and has been discussed over the years. Some may argue that it is necessary to keep us safe from crime and danger. 1984 is a dystopian novel written by George Orwell in 1949. In the novel, the dangers of totalitarianism and the importance of individual freedom is the central theme. The Government which is known as The Party uses surveillance to maintain their power over the people of Oceania. For example the party uses telescreen’s to watch the people of Oceania. Another way of surveillance is the party putting microphones in the citizens homes so that they are monitored at all times.
The government has complete control over society and every aspect of everyone's life. The …show more content…

Orwell said “Freedom is Slavery”, which means that the party is telling the people of Oceania they are only free if they serve for the party. “Slavery is freedom. Alone—free—the human being is always defeated”. (Orwell, 1949, p. 233-234). Just like the party using government surveillance, the party is watching your every move and you cannot do anything about it. Just like the telescreens watch your every move and it allows the government to watch and listen to the conversations and actions of citizens at all times. “The telescreen has the features of television. Messages and videos will play on the telescreens throughout the city, and request programs will play that citizens have to watch. The telescreens also act as spies, allowing the Thought Police to observe the men and women throughout the city, ensuring no one gets away with anything that goes against the Party’s tenants” (Book Analysis 2017) . The United States was also caught doing this to Americans, According to “Electronic Frontier Foundation” “News reports in December 2005 first revealed that the National Security Agency (NSA) has been intercepting Americans’ phone calls and Internet communications. Those news reports, combined with a USA Today story in May 2006 and the statements of several members of Congress, revealed that the NSA is also receiving wholesale copies of American's telephone and other communications records. All of these

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