Maria Ressa on how to save democracy from Big Tech

Democracy faces a critical juncture defined by three intertwined crises: the erosion of truth, the breakdown of institutional order, and a systemic lack of accountability. Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist Maria Ressa highlights how social media and AI have hacked human attention and intimacy, creating a global environment where fear, anger, and disinformation thrive. To combat these threats, citizens must reclaim their agency through digital hygiene, the formation of civic circles, and the development of public interest technology. Rather than relying on profit-driven platforms, the future of information integrity depends on a federated, global approach to governance and the support of independent news organizations. By pivoting from traditional advertising models to tech-driven data analysis, journalists can maintain their independence and hold power to account, ultimately building a human-centered future that resists the manipulative design of current digital systems.