Surveillance: Orwell's World Come True

The thought of the government monitoring our homes and families is a scary one. From movies like “Eagle Eye” and Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rear Window”, everyday people are bombarded with realistic worlds and/or individuals being controlled by an all knowing and all seeing leader. Security cameras and electronic devices already allow for businesses and governments to peek into the public lives of civilians, and the Patriot Act allows phone taps with only slight suspicion of terrorist activity. With all the new technology coming out, there is a new threat of government monitoring. And some do more than monitor your Internet history. In an article from June of this year, reporting a of police drones that officers can use to see into your home and backyards. These drones are the next step in surveillance by law enforcement. Though many citizens and politicians think it is too much, the police officers in charge of the aircraft say they will cause no affect to daily life. How far is too far? When will modern day surveillance begin to fit the mold of distopia novels like "Hunger Games" and "1984"?
The use of drones and electronics to follow and observe citizens eerily reflects the use of telescreens and microphone in Orwell's "1984". Telescreens monitor and report the activities of the citizens, but remain hidden in the environment. Privacy is an illusion in Orwell's world, and may become an illusion in the real world. Every opinion towards the government, every gathering of family, friends, book clubs, being watched by men sitting at desks. The citizens of Orwell's London live with the glaring eyes of Big Brother over them constantly. Similarly, citizens of modern America have the electronic eye of the CIA, FBI, and other organizations watching us for information. The government claims it will prevent crime, just as Big Brother uses surveillance to "prevent crime". Comparing the fictional world to the real one, differences become fewer. Before long the citizens of modern times may feel the ever watchful eyes of government at all times.