PHX Reporter

Phoenix-area resident Ryan Hartwig, who gained national attention for "hidden camera" footage about Facebook, is featured in “Police State,” the latest movie from filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza.

"After watching ‘Police State’ for the first time, I realized how so many elements are being leveraged against us to influence our opinions and thoughts, not just Facebook and not just memes,” Hartwig told PHX Reporter after attending a special showing of the film last night at Mesa Cinemark 16 theaters. “The numerous specific examples throughout the documentary paint a chilling yet accurate picture of just how close we are to losing all of our civil rights."

“Police State” shows the roots of what D’Souza calls “police state” activity by the government from the so-called “Patriot Act” following 9-11 to the more recent instances of “COVID" lockdowns, social media censorship, prosecution of concerned parents at school board meetings, and the surveillance and detention of Americans who were in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021.

In 2020, Hartwig released hidden camera footage from his work as a “content moderator” for Facebook while working at the Phoenix offices Cognizant. That footage, released through Project Veritas, featured conversations with co-workers and “documents showing Facebook’s policies and patterns of bias,” said Hartwig.

On July 27, 2020, U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) cited Hartwig’s disclosure as Gaetz filed a criminal referral against Facebook founder Mark Zuckberg “for making materially false statements to Congress while under oath during two joint hearings in Congress.” 

Two days later, Gaetz mentioned Hartwig while questioning Zuckberg during Congressional testimony. 

Hartwig also co-authored the 2021 book, “Behind the Mask of Facebook: A Whistleblower’s Shocking Story of Big Tech Bias and Censorship.”

In “Police State,” Hartwig is interviewed by D’Souza about censorship by tech companies and, more specifically, Hartwig’s 2020 disclosures.

In addition to D’Souza and Hartwig, the film features seasoned actor Nick Searcy, and interviews with U.S. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R), radio host Dan Bongino, and a number of government whistleblowers.

“Police State” was featured in a number of special showings at theaters throughout the Phoenix area earlier this week, and will feature a “Virtual Premiere” on Oct. 27 at 5 p.m. Pacific.