telescreen
Two-way watching device
A telescreen is a two-way television device in George Orwell's novel *1984* that simultaneously broadcasts propaganda and surveils citizens in their homes.
The term has become shorthand for any technology that watches while it entertains: Our smart TVs are basically telescreens now.
The word captures anxieties about surveillance capitalism and the erosion of private life.
Totalitarian surveillance authority
- Nineteen Eighty-FourDystopian totalitarianism novel
- thoughtcrimeProhibited beliefs under authoritarianism
- doublethinkHolding contradictory beliefs simultaneously
- Ministry of TruthState falsification agency
Winston Smith · Oceania · memory hole · Room 101 · unperson · proles · Goldstein · Julia
Ongoing observation of something
- watchingActively looking at something
- spyingSecretly observing others
- eavesdroppingSecretly listening to others
- CCTVSurveillance camera network
cameras · two-way · always-on · observation · tracking · wiretapping · listening device · hidden microphone
Invading others' privacy
- invasiveEncroaching without welcome
- omnipresentExisting everywhere at once
- inescapableImpossible to avoid
- mandatoryRequired by rule
compulsory · ever-present · household · domestic · wall-mounted · volume control · compliance · obedience
Transmitted media signal
- announcementPublic declaration of information
- news bulletinBrief broadcast announcement
- loudspeakerSound amplification device
- state mediaGovernment-run news organizations
indoctrination · agitprop · disinformation · spin · messaging · public address · programming · production figures
Big Brother
Totalitarian surveillance authority
- Nineteen Eighty-FourDystopian totalitarianism novel
- thoughtcrimeProhibited beliefs under authoritarianism
- doublethinkHolding contradictory beliefs simultaneously
Winston Smith · Ministry of Truth · Oceania · memory hole · Room 101 · unperson · proles · Goldstein · Julia · O'Brien
monitoring
Ongoing observation of something
- watchingActively looking at something
- spyingSecretly observing others
- eavesdroppingSecretly listening to others
CCTV · cameras · two-way · always-on · observation · tracking · wiretapping · listening device · hidden microphone · panopticon
intrusive
Invading others' privacy
- invasiveEncroaching without welcome
- omnipresentExisting everywhere at once
- inescapableImpossible to avoid
mandatory · compulsory · ever-present · household · domestic · wall-mounted · volume control · compliance · obedience · suppression
broadcast
Transmitted media signal
- announcementPublic declaration of information
- news bulletinBrief broadcast announcement
- loudspeakerSound amplification device
state media · indoctrination · agitprop · disinformation · spin · messaging · public address · programming · production figures
- tele- wordsTV, telegram, telecom, teleport, telex
- Orwelliannewspeak, doublethink, Big Brother, thoughtcrime, Ministry of Truth
telescreenprivacy
Freedom from observation
anonymity · encryption · off-grid living · safe room · sanctuary
telescreensamizdat
Clandestine dissident publishing
free press · independent media · underground newspaper · freedom of speech · pirate radio
telescreenliberty
Absence of unjust constraint
freedom · democracy · human rights · civil liberties · personal autonomy