This panel starts a MWAIS community conversation about privacy, technology and surveillance in the digital age: the Big Brother scenario. The Big Brother metaphor captures many of our concerns about a future scenario that is increasingly possible. Issues to be discussed by the panel include: 1. How do we define ‘privacy’ in the digital age? 2. Who gathers our information online, and why? 3. What is the scope of surveillance in our culture – governmental, corporate, and interpersonal? 4. How much can be learned about us from our online presence? 5. What are the risks, and how can we protect ourselves? 6. How can we avoid George Orwell’s warning about a totalitarian surveillance state? 7. What is the role of IS/T professionals in avoiding this scenario?