Nobel Peace Prize recipient Maria Ressa has expressed hope that the arrest of Rodrigo Duterte signifies the potential for a rules-based international order to endure. She noted that while the global landscape is challenged by forces similar to those that affected the Philippines, Duterte's detention and trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for alleged crimes against humanity during his severe anti-drug campaign offer a glimmer of justice for the thousands of victims.
Ressa highlighted that Duterte was the first leader to leverage social media extensively during his 2016 election campaign, using platforms like Facebook to rally support and spread misinformation. She warned that these tactics are now being employed globally to destabilize democracies, particularly in the United States.
Reflecting on the situation, Ressa remarked that while the Philippines has moved from a dire situation to a slightly better one, she fears the West, including the US, is experiencing a similar decline. As a co-founder of the Rappler news site, Ressa has been instrumental in exposing the spread of propaganda and alleged abuses under Duterte's administration.
Speaking from Berlin, where she participated in a "people's court" examining the impact of social media on polarization and misinformation, Ressa emphasized the need for international accountability. This tribunal, although symbolic, aims to pressure for greater responsibility in the digital realm, drawing parallels to a previous initiative targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ressa recounted how the Philippines was used as a testing ground for social media manipulation, a strategy later applied in the West. Despite her warnings, the world seemed unprepared for the consequences, which became evident during the 2024 US presidential elections. She criticized tech leaders like Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk for their influence, suggesting that the US now faces a significant threat to democracy.
She urged people to speak out against such threats, warning that silence equates to consent and the loss of rights. Ressa's own experiences in the Philippines, where she faced numerous legal challenges for her reporting, underscore the importance of defending freedom of expression.
Duterte's arrest has highlighted a divided nation, with supporters rallying in his favor while others continue to deal with the repercussions of his harsh anti-drug policies. Ressa sees this as a warning for the US and other Western nations about the dangers of unchecked technology leading to authoritarianism. She stressed the importance of protecting rights now to avoid long-term damage.