It seems we have not internalized the lessons of George Orwell's dystopian vision in “1984.” Now, forty years later, that terrifying notion is becoming a reality. Win, the fictional son of Winston Smith, experiences firsthand the horrors of the totalitarian system – a system that takes control of every aspect of daily life with sophisticated and cruel efficiency. A system that clutches each of us with a cold claw right now.

We all live in an illusion of freedom, but one that is increasingly curtailed. If we are not vigilant, we too could be enslaved for good, becoming functioning machines in a repressive and inhumane system of control. The year 2024 is not dystopian fiction, but an urgent warning: we must resist the plans of governments and powerful corporations that threaten our freedom.

While digitization offers incredible opportunities for humanity, it also poses dangers. It is our duty to ensure that no one – intentionally or unintentionally – abuses digitization as a modern ankle bracelet. An ankle bracelet that forces us onto the benches of a punishment gallery, where we have no choice but to row until we drop dead while being monitored seamlessly at every moment.

Under omnipresent surveillance and control, it is possible to instantly identify and punish any misconduct or political opinion, so the very thought of resisting the system becomes unthinkable.

It is time to fight together for a just, free, and democratic future in which digitization does not subjugate us but serves us and supports us in our pursuit of happiness and self-realization.

Dan Taylor