Final answer:
Today's surveillance is mostly perpetuated through technology, with decentralized systems like cameras and phone tracking, contrasted with the centralized control in Orwell's 1984, though both forms aim to monitor and sometimes control societal behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
Our individual actions are monitored and controlled today through various means of digital surveillance and technological social control. In contrast to the centralized surveillance depicted in George Orwell's 1984, modern surveillance is decentralized and often uses technology to collect data. Digital security cameras, cell phone tracking, and facial-recognition software are all examples of how our movements can be tracked. Government controls still exist in areas such as the press, where restrictions can shape public perception and limit dissent, similar to the totalitarianism portrayed in 1984. However, it is important to note that these surveillance technologies also have beneficial uses, such as improving public safety and efficiency. The challenge lies in balancing the beneficial uses of this technology with the need for privacy and limits on state and corporate power over information.