Viktorya Vilk Reveals How Governments Are Weaponizing the Internet—And Big Tech Is Letting It Happen

What if online harassment isn't random at all—but part of a strategy? In this explosive episode of The Healthier Tech Podcast, host R Blank talks with Viktorya Vilk, Director of Digital Safety and Free Expression at PEN America, about how governments, corporations, and tech platforms are turning the internet into a weapon against free speech. Viktorya reveals how political power, economic pressure, and digital surveillance now intersect to create an ecosystem where journalists, writers, and even librarians are targeted for speaking out. She breaks down how authoritarian tactics, media consolidation, and platform indifference have combined to make the online world hostile to truth—and what each of us can do to push back.   In This Episode: How the U.S. dropped to 57th in global press freedom rankings—and why that's not an accident The chilling new playbook: online harassment as a censorship tool Why Big Tech's business model thrives on surveillance, fear, and silence How Facebook and Google siphoned 70% of online ad revenue, collapsing local journalism Real-life examples of reporters attacked, arrested, and digitally terrorized for telling the truth The practical digital safety steps every person can take—starting today Why Viktorya refuses to give in to "tech nihilism" and insists users have power   Why You Should Listen This isn't just a podcast about harassment or privacy—it's about democracy, power, and your voice. Viktorya explains how the same digital forces that endanger journalists are eroding safety and free expression for everyone. But she also shares concrete tools to rebuild your sense of control online: from password hygiene and privacy audits to collective advocacy that pressures tech platforms to act responsibly. She makes one thing clear: silence is the goal of harassment—and awareness is the antidote.   Connect With Viktorya Vilk: Website: https://pen.org Social Handles: LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/viktorya-v-a65b9235/ X: @VilkViktorya   Resources Mentioned in the Episode: Field Manual Against Online Harrassment: https://onlineharassmentfieldmanual.pen.org/  Online abuse & Digital Safety Programs: https://pen.org/online-abuse-digital-safety/  Treating online abuse like Spam: https://pen.org/report/treating-online-abuse-like-spam/ Shouting into the void: https://pen.org/report/shouting-into-the-void/  No Excuse for abuse: https://pen.org/report/no-excuse-for-abuse/    Connect with R Blank: For more Healthier Tech Podcast episodes, and to download our Healthier Tech Quick Start Guide, visit https://HealthierTech.co and follow https://instagram.com/healthiertech    Additional Links: EMF Superstore: https://ShieldYourBody.com (save 15% with code "pod") Digital Wellbeing with a Human Soul: https://Bagby.co (save 15% with code "pod") Youtube: https://youtube.com/shieldyourbody Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bagbybrand/  Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bagby.co Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shieldyourbody  This episode is brought to you by Shield Your Body—a global leader in EMF protection and digital wellness. Because real wellness means protecting your body, not just optimizing it. If you found this episode eye-opening, leave a review, share it with someone tech-curious, and don't forget to subscribe to Shield Your Body on YouTube for more insights on living healthier with technology.