Maria Ressa's Memoir Details Fight Against Censorship and Social Media Disinformation

Maria Ressa's memoir 'How to Stand Up to a Dictator' critiques social media's role in enabling authoritarian regimes, with a focus on Facebook's impact in the Philippines. The book, published by WH Allen, recounts Ressa's career and the founding of Rappler, the news site she co-founded in 2012. It details efforts like the Sharktank database, which mapped billions of Facebook posts to combat misinformation, and the #FactCheckph initiative launched in 2017 with other outlets. Ressa, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 alongside Dmitry Muratov, was arrested in 2019 on cyber-libel charges, an event tracked by Sharktank. The memoir includes personal anecdotes, such as her friendship with Twink Macaraig, and a 2017 exchange with Mark Zuckerberg about Facebook's dominance in the Philippines. Ressa argues that platforms like Facebook prioritize growth over regulating disinformation, fueling digital authoritarianism. The work serves as both a personal account and a call to action for journalistic integrity against tyranny.