How much did '1984' actually predict about the world we live in today?

This article has been published to coincide with Episode Six, Part II, of Mashable's new podcast, Fiction Predictions. Listen here.

1984 turns 70 years old on June 8, 2019.

In today's world, the word "Orwellian" seems to crop up regularly in the news. Its meaning seems to have expanded and developed. Whether it's scary uses of technology, government control, or the often-murky relationship between truth and lies, Orwell's novel is frequently invoked in conversations and news articles.

But how much did 1984 actually predict about the world we live in today?

In an attempt to get to the bottom of the mystery, we spoke to New York Times technology reporter Paul Mozer, Media Matters Senior Fellow Matthew Gertz, and author Peter Pomerantsev about life in China, America, and Russia.

You can listen to Part I of the episode here.