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I see a difference. Just because the British government is increasing surveillance doesn't mean it is also as monolithic as its parallel in 1984. Watching the

I see a difference. Just because the British government is increasing surveillance doesn't mean it is also as monolithic as its parallel in 1984. Watching the BBC does not preclude active citizenship. More to the point, I doubt viewers who can appreciate the humor in Blackadder or the drama in Rome are completely incapable of questioning things they read or hear.

axod 18y ago
"Just because the British government is increasing surveillance doesn't mean it is also as monolithic as its parallel in 1984." Please can we stop this silly misconception that the UK government is engaged in surveillance en masse. It's a ridiculous fantasy. Individual businesses have closed circuit TV, to catch criminals and protect their premises. The video goes onto a video, which in a few days is used again and taped over. It can be requested by the police, if they feel it may help with a criminal case. End of story. I believe the practice started to take off in the 70s/80s when video cameras became cheap enough for the average person to have one, and they were shown to catch shop lifters etc. Also possibly to catch people like the IRA planting bombs.
LPTS 18y ago
The difference between 1984 and the way the british government would like to do things involves technological maturity and distribution of that technology. The intentions and thinking is the same.