Orwell drew inspiration for the concept from various sources, including:
1. Joseph Stalin's Soviet Union: Orwell was influenced by the oppressive regime of Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union, where the government used surveillance, secret police, and propaganda to maintain control over its citizens.
2. Totalitarian Governments: Orwell also drew inspiration from other totalitarian governments, such as Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, which employed similar tactics of surveillance, censorship, and propaganda.
3. Technological Advancements: Orwell was concerned about the potential misuse of technology for surveillance and control. He anticipated the rise of technologies like television and closed-circuit cameras, which could enable constant monitoring of citizens.
By combining these elements, Orwell created the concept of Big Brother as a symbol of oppressive government surveillance and control over individual freedoms and privacy. The term gained cultural significance beyond the novel and is now widely used to refer to the perception of governments or organisations exercising excessive control or monitoring over individuals or society.