n ew ideas
Health totalitarianism „1984”, a dystopian vision of the future created 70 years ago by George Orwell, shapes our fear of a world where every aspect of life is precisely controlled. How real is this threatening scenario in the age of AI, Big Data, and the Internet of Things? And how does this dystopian vision of the future driven by 20th- and 21st-century literature and movies slow us from benefiting from digital healthcare? Measure to gain power Orwell’s omnipresent eyes of “the Party” control what people say, think, read, and how they live. The ruler manipulates society, deciding what is allowed and what not. There is no escape from the “Big Brother” dictatorship. Even thinking about “forbidden” is a form of rebellion. The protagonist of “1984”, Winston
Smith, commits the crime of keeping a secret diary of his thoughts. Together with his girlfriend, Julia, they start to fight against the oppression that no one else seems to notice. The world where we are heading can outdo the dystopia of which George Orwell warned. However, instead of one enemy that is visible, defined, and tan-
gible, there will be many of them. Smart spies are embedded in the things at home and in public spaces. CCTV (Closed Circuit Television), sensors, wearables, and smartphones are all continuously collecting data, which is then processed by tech companies and governments. As a result, trained algorithms can recognize our faces, tracking where we are and what we are doing. In healthcare settings, they can also monitor the behavior and, through mobile applications, modify it to improve our overall well-being, longevity, and happiness. Step by step, as a society, we give away small parts of our freedom – everything for a better, healthier life. There is nothing wrong about prevention and behavior change programs because there is nothing as precious as our health and
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