It was a long time ago, but have you read it? Because if I recall correctly, the surveillance happened inside your own home from your own TV. Other than that, the book '1984' wasnt really about surveillance, it's more about a system of lies and the transformation of speech into a political tool to control people.

It was about totalitarianism. An inescapable State.

Public surveillance everywhere is a precursor to that.

The surveillance within your home is very much already a reality.

Now we have people welcoming this creeping totalitarianism with concerns of safety. Trading justice for individual crimes at the ever-growing risk of totalitarianism.

I don't think you're recalling correctly: surveillance was a huge part of how people were controlled in 1984. It wasn't the only tool, but it certainly was a main one of them.