shia labeoufShia LaBeouf has said he hopes his new thriller Eagle Eye opens people’s eyes about the surveillance they’re under in modern society.

The Steven Spielberg directed film sees Shia and Michelle Monaghan having their lives tracked and controlled as they’re framed as terrorists and Shia told Parade magazine recently that it’s more believable than some people might think: “I kind of live in a fishbowl [in Hollywood], but what people don’t realize is that I’m not the only one.

“The irony is they say to me, ‘I don’t know how you can deal with being followed and recorded everywhere you go.’ And while they’re saying that they may be getting recorded.

“Steven Spielberg expected people would stay away from the beach after they saw Jaws. Now he’s betting that people will take a second look at their cell phones after they see this movie.

“I tell you what got my attention. There was a CIA guy on the set who played back a cell phone conversation I’d had two years ago.

“It’s a tangible reality that one in five phone conversations you have is recorded, that your ADT security box in your home can be activated and used against you and OnStar in your car could allow somebody to shut your car down on the freeway.

“Big Brother is invading our lives because we’ve allowed him to and that’s terrifying.”

  • Want to learn more about how surveillance culture is taking over our lives - and what you can do about it? Check out Privacy International