Help Is On the Way - A Conversation With Maria Ressa

Authoritarian power has evolved from traditional state-led dictatorships to a pervasive, tech-enabled form wielded by corporate algorithms that dictate the versions of reality reaching the public. Maria Ressa, 2021 Nobel Peace Prize winner, argues that platforms like Facebook and frontier AI models prioritize viral engagement over truth, effectively dismantling shared reality and fueling global polarization. This "information Armageddon" allows state actors to suppress dissent and manipulate public opinion, as demonstrated by the weaponization of social media in the Philippines. To counter this, citizens must reclaim their agency by mapping these power structures, supporting independent journalism, and resisting "cognitive surrender." Rather than relying on passive hope or despair, active resistance—such as tracking screen time, deleting harmful applications, and defending institutional integrity—is essential to holding both state and tech power accountable in an increasingly digital, anti-democratic landscape.