7 Ways Metal Gear Solid 2 Predicted Our EXACT Future
3. Government Surveillance Programs
The US Government responded to the 9/11 attacks by enacting the Patriot Act, a significant piece of anti-terrorist legislation. Surprisingly, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty seemed to anticipate this development, as the game's release preceded the introduction of the act by then U.S. President George W. Bush. The game explored the theme of governments monitoring their citizens, scrutinizing their expenses, travel patterns, and companions.
Astonishingly, these concepts mirrored the real-life measures implemented in the US a mere 21 days after Metal Gear Solid 2's release. In the years following, the game's prophetic ideas only gained further relevance.
With the proliferation of IP addresses and the activation of GPS tracking on mobile devices, coupled with allegations of big tech companies selling user data to third parties, the notions explored in Metal Gear Solid 2 are gradually aligning with reality. The game's portrayal of a world where individuals are closely observed and their personal information exploited, resonates with contemporary concerns about privacy and data security.
As technology continues to advance and surveillance becomes more sophisticated, Metal Gear Solid 2's commentary on these issues becomes increasingly accurate. The game's ability to anticipate these developments serves as a testament to its thought-provoking narrative and its exploration of the potential consequences of an increasingly monitored society.
While the game's predictions should be viewed within the context of its fictional universe - as well as the history of U.S. surveillance dating back to the formation of J. Edgar Hoover's FBI - the parallels it draws to real-world events and concerns offer a glimpse into the impact of surveillance and the erosion of privacy in the modern era.