In 1949 George Orwell published a novel called “1984” about the negative things that could happen if citizens allowed their government total control.
The protagonist, Winston Smith, works in London in the Ministry of Truth department of the government called Oceania. He is responsible for rewriting history to manipulate their citizens into believing anything, which allows them as much power as they could possibly want.
The book was written as a warning of what could happen if people allowed their governments to obtain too much power after Orwell saw what happened to the people of Nazi Germany. The book also demonstrates the ability of governments to alter reality and manipulate facts to suit their narrative.
The key to controlling people was the surveillance box installed in each home allowing the government to observe each citizen and to deliver propaganda into each home. The book was so provocative that it was banned in certain instances because it was so far from the realm of possibility.
Now every home has one or more televisions that have several news channels that slant the program one way or the other. In addition, everyone has a cell phone that is constantly updating you with news flashes and comments from your favorite source.
Then finally people put in information on their personal social page such private information that they would not divulge even under torture. Finally, every phone call or purchase is collected in vast data centers that then sell that information to purchasers who use it to manipulate your habits.
Orwell today would be shocked at how instead of forcing people to adopt certain habits, they will pay you to be manipulated.
