The fears of invasion of privacy, as a consequence of inexorable forces seemingly out of the control of the average American, has risen to a major public policy issue. A half century ago a number of writers expressed concern at a perceived ever widening intrusion of government into the lives of individuals.
They feared the ultimate collectivization of our society where individualism would be significantly diminished or expunged, and the emergence of “Big Brother” would come to define and dominate our lives. 1984, the year, as well as the book made famous by George Orwell in 1949, have come and gone.