big brother - Page 4 of 4

Dr. Al-Arian’s Third Strike

Chris Hedges / Truthdig Mar 8, 2008 The Palestinian activist Dr. Sami Amin Al-Arian, imprisoned for five years despite a jury's failure to return a single guilty verdict against him, has gone on a hunger strike in a Virginia jail. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

For Orwell, Life Imitated Art

Staff / Truthdig Sep 4, 2007 It turns out that George Orwell, famed author of "1984" and originator of the term "Big Brother," was spied on by his government for more than 10 years. Members of Britain's MI5 suspected the writer of being a communist, until they bothered to read him, and were apparently baffled by his "bohemian" clothes. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Who Wants to Win a Kidney?

Staff / Truthdig May 29, 2007 If you thought reality television had already hit its nadir, guess again The creators of the "Big Brother" franchise have whipped up a shocking new premise for their next hopeful hit in the Netherlands: A terminally ill woman will, with advice from viewers, choose the winner of her kidneys Update: Producers at Endemol have admitted that the show is a hoax. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Insert Orwell Reference Here

Staff / Truthdig Apr 5, 2007 Street surveillance is taking an alarming turn for the interactive in England. As part of a government plan to target "antisocial" behavior and petty crime, closed-circuit television cameras will be installed around the country with the capacity to talk back to people engaging in unseemly acts in public places. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Spy on the Government

Staff / Truthdig Mar 19, 2007 The Freedom of Information Act was signed into law by Lyndon Johnson in 1966, and has proved to be an indispensable tool for our democracy, but negotiating the bureaucracy can be intimidating. Luckily, the Bad Guys blog has collected a helpful assortment of FOIA resources. Check it out and find out what your government is up to. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Google’s Wi-Fi Plan Stirs Big Brother Concerns

Staff / Truthdig Apr 12, 2006 The company's free wireless service in San Francisco would allow Google to monitor all its users' whereabouts--ostensibly to serve up location-specific advertising. The feeling you just got? That would be the hairs on the back on your neck rising. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )