How to Stand Up to a Dictator: The Fight for Our Future

Concerns about Social Media’s Effects on Democracy emerge as a central theme in Ressa’s prologue. She describes social media platforms as having “godlike power to infect each of us with a virus of lies” (4), highlighting how these technologies can be weaponized to manipulate public opinion and undermine democratic processes. Ressa’s experience with Facebook in the Philippines serves as a microcosm for the global impact of social media on political discourse and social cohesion: “97 percent of our country’s citizens were on Facebook” by 2017 (3), making the Philippines an ideal testing ground for social media manipulation tactics. Ressa argues that the platforms themselves are “biased against facts,” as studies have shown that “lies laced with anger and hate spread faster and further than facts” (4). This bias has led to a situation where “Without facts, you can’t have truth. Without truth, you can’t have trust. Without all three, we have no shared reality, and democracy as we know it, and all meaningful human endeavors, are dead” (4).

The Philippines as a Harbinger of World Events is another significant theme. Ressa positions her country as “ground zero” (3) for the negative effects of social media on national institutions and culture. Developments in the Philippines often presage similar occurrences in other parts of the world, making her nation a crucial case study for understanding global trends in information warfare and political manipulation. Ressa provides specific examples to support this claim, such as the creation of “account farms” (3) in the Philippines as early as 2015, which were used to generate fake social media engagement. She also notes that “one in every twenty-seven Trump followers was from the Philippines” (3) during the 2016 US presidential campaign, suggesting a connection between Philippines-based digital manipulation and international political events.

The Relationship Between Democracy and Journalism is explored throughout both the foreword and prologue. Ressa and Clooney emphasize the critical role journalists play in maintaining democratic systems by holding power to account and exposing corruption. The threats faced by journalists in authoritarian regimes are presented as symptomatic of broader attacks on democratic institutions and values. Clooney writes in the foreword that “in an autocracy, a journalist’s opponent is the state” (xi), highlighting the power imbalance journalists face when challenging authoritarian governments. Ressa’s own experience, facing “ten arrest warrants” (1) and the possibility of life imprisonment, illustrates the personal risks journalists take in pursuit of truth. She frames her work, and journalism in general, as a crucial defense against authoritarianism: “The only defense a journalist has is to shine the light on the truth, to expose the lie” (6).

The prologue is structured to integrate Ressa’s personal experiences with broader societal observations. This approach allows her to ground abstract concepts in concrete examples, making the complex issues she discusses more accessible to readers. The text moves between micro and macro perspectives, using Ressa’s individual story as a lens through which to examine global trends. For instance, Ressa begins by describing her emotional state during the pandemic lockdown, then zooms out to discuss the global breakdown of the rule of law. She connects her personal safety concerns (“In 2018, I began wearing a bulletproof vest on the road” [1]) to the larger issue of violence against journalists and activists. This structure creates a narrative that is both intimate and expansive, allowing readers to connect with Ressa’s personal story while understanding its wider implications.

Ressa makes several historical references to contextualize her arguments. She mentions Carl von Ossietzky, the last journalist to receive the Nobel Peace Prize before her—he won the award in 1935 for his work chronicling German rearmament—to draw a parallel between the rise of Nazism and current threats to democracy. This reference serves to underscore the gravity of the current situation for journalists and democracy worldwide. Ressa also alludes to events like Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the 2022 Philippine elections to illustrate the real-world impacts of disinformation campaigns. Ressa describes how Russian disinformation tactics used in Crimea in 2014 were later deployed globally, including in the Philippines under Duterte, and in the US with the Stop the Steal campaign. These historical and contemporary references help readers understand the global scope and evolution of information warfare tactics.

Ressa employs a framework that links technological developments, particularly in social media, to political and social outcomes. She posits a causal relationship between the erosion of online integrity and the breakdown of democratic norms in the physical world. This analytical approach allows her to trace the trajectory from digital manipulation to tangible political consequences. Ressa argues that “Impunity online naturally led to impunity offline, destroying existing checks and balances” (4). She illustrates this framework through examples such as the 2022 Philippine election, where she contends that “disinformation networks” transformed the public perception of Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., “from a pariah into a hero” (6). This framework provides a coherent explanation for how digital information manipulation can lead to fundamental changes in political realities.

The prologue makes use of metaphor, describing disinformation as an “invisible atom bomb” (5) in the information ecosystem. This comparison of digital malfeasance to a weapon of mass destruction underscores the destructive potential of unchecked misinformation. Ressa also employs anecdotes, such as her interaction with Mark Zuckerberg, to humanize complex issues and engage readers on a personal level. She recounts Zuckerberg’s quip about the 3 percent of Filipinos not on Facebook, initially finding it amusing but later recognizing its ominous implications. These personal touches make the abstract concepts more relatable and memorable.

The foreword by Amal Clooney uses historical parallels to contextualize Ressa’s struggle, comparing her to figures like Gandhi and Mandela. This rhetorical strategy serves to elevate Ressa’s work and frame it within a larger narrative of resistance against injustice. Clooney writes, “Throughout history, some of the most important voices in society have been persecuted” (xii), drawing direct comparisons between Ressa’s legal battles and those faced by famous historical figures who challenged oppressive systems. This framing helps to establish the significance of Ressa’s work in the broader context of the struggle for democracy and human rights.