Author(s): Parampreet Kaur, Hardeep Kaur

Abstract: This is the study of George Orwell’s novel 1984 in light of China’s social credit system explores the idea of Orwellian surveillance reflected in all over the world. China’s Social Credit System (SCS) is a mechanism that is designed to rate every citizen based on their behaviour. According to electronic media, SCS has been given a new Direction to China. Orwell’s 1984, a Dystopian novel that was published in 1949 it represent suppression of independent thoughts. It offers a keen study to analyze the extremeness and difference between SCS and the world depicted in 1984. This study sheds light on the numerous techniques used to maintain social norms and presents a framework for examining how SCS influences citizen behavior. By closely reading Orwell’s novel 1984, it engages with the themes of surveillance, totalitarianism, and manipulation. Here, the meaning of surveillance is to monitoring someone closely for control purposes. Totalitarianism describes a system in which the government exerts absolute control over all aspects of life, leaving people with no political freedom or choice. These three factors—surveillance, totalitarianism, and manipulation—contribute to the creation of dystopian societies. In the present scenario, the concept of digital dystopia emerges, where technology is used as a tool for surveillance and social manipulation. This paper highlights how modern digital surveillance mirrors Orwell’s nightmares. The SCS system is a digital system that can be seen as a Faustian deal, similar to Christopher Marlowe’s play Doctor Faustus, in which doctor sells his soul to devil in exchange for 24 years of ultimate power. Likewise, Chinese Citizens trade their freedom and privacy with higher authorities in exchange of privileges and for good opportunities. This study identifies key features of Orwellian warnings and raise concerns about free will and democracy. To analyse, it is essential to divide it into key points and break down various stages to find the findings of rebirth and re-education in 1984 as well as in China’s SCS. These stages serve as a lens for deeper exploration and help to build a corelative understanding between the two.

Keywords: Digital dystopia, surveillance, Faustian deal, totalitarianism, manipulation, consent, re-education and rebirth.

Article Info: Received: 23 Apr 2025; Received in revised form: 17 May 2025; Accepted: 23 May 2025; Available online: 30 May 2025

DOI: 10.22161/ijels.103.50