Here is how Orwell's narrator, Winston Smith, described the surveillance system that they faced: "There was, of course, no way of knowing whether you were being watched at any given moment." He went on to say, "At any rate, they could plug in your wire whenever they wanted to.
Iată cum Winston Smith, povestitorul lui Orwell, descrie sistemul de supraveghere cu care se confruntau: „Nu exista, desigur, niciun mod de a ști dacă erai observat într-un anume moment.” A continuat spunând: „De fapt, puteau activa conexiunea oricând voiau.