Privacy In 1984

Right to individual privacy is acknowledged as a fundamental right protected by constitution in many civilized societies. The right enables a person to conduct his or her personal affairs without invasion of privacy by the authorities. The right to privacy is also protected by law in several countries. George Orwell’s 1984, on the other hand, is staged in a dystopian society wherein government controls every aspects of its citizens’ life. The government in 1984 wants to ensure that there is no rebellion or opposition to those in power. Similar society is also depicted in the movie Brazil where a person’s documented record is considered the only authentic record. The government therein too has unrestrained access to personal information without

Of the three, 1984 is surely the most invidious society depicted. Various means used by those in power to invade and control citizens’ privacy are use of technology, employing network of informants/spies and denying legal recourse, in case of invasion of individual privacy. Use of technology is pervasive in our society. We are still ambivalent if it has made our life easier or has disturbed it. As we advance in technology, it’s being used against us and is shown to doing so in 1984, Brazil and as well as the article. In 1984, every open space in the society is covered with telescreens and microphones. The citizens are seeing “Big Brother Is Watching you” ( ) on their telescreens at every second. The minds of citizens are being infiltrated using Big Brother’s message. Also, in 1984 technology is used against the citizens. As it says in 1984 “The thing that is in Room 101 ….. is the worst thing in the world” ( ). It is known to the citizens that in room 101, they will face their worst fear. The telescreens and microphones help the government to find out citizens’ worst fear and then later it is used against them if they go against the government. The

Informants and spies usually follow people, hack into their personal device and try to find more about them. In 1984 “it was normal for people over thirty to be frightened of their own children” because the kids in 1984 were involved with an organization called “Junior Spies” where they are thought about Big Brother and are encouraged to spy on their parents. This shows the government has more control on the kids then its parents and parents are not even comfortable in front of their kids since they can have them in trouble. There is no endearment between the parents and the kids. As well as, there is no emotional connection between the parents and the kids don’t hesitate to turn them in. Whereas in the movie Brazil there weren’t any spies organization but they were promoting people to spy on other through propagandas. One of the posters that was on the wall of Ministry of information said “Help Ministry of Information help you”. This proves that the ministry wanted people to spy on others, so they can keep the society safe. As a result, it shows that the people are hesitating to trust on each other because of the causes government has created. Both of these society are promoting espionage through propagandas. Moreover, the article states that “the government runs searches of the collected communications for the express purpose of finding and are reviewing calls and email” ( ). This