In “1984″ George Orwell envisioned a surveillance-based society using two-way televisions. Imagine what he would have done with the Internet?
Frankly, the amount of personal information that we all share via computer is staggering. Now, there’s a site that spoofs just how much data a government collects on its citizens.
Called “Statebook,” the site gives examples of the information that the UK government actually does collect — or could collect with little difficulty (eg. phone calls) — and presents it in a user-friendly social-networking style
None of this is far-fetched. These databases exist. The only thing that doesn’t (yet) exist is the website that ties them all together.
Scary stuff. (Thanks, BB)
Grant Hamilton
2 Responses to “You could describe this as Orwell on steroids — but friendlier”
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Grade 12s at my placement are currently studying 1984 by Orwell and I’m strongly considering putting this site in my archive as a teaching resource, and showing it to my cooperating teacher.
That would actually be a really cool way to make the book relevant to kids whose parents might not have even met in 1984. Kudos to you for thinking of it!
Ha! It’s the Ministry of Friends.