Journalists who have been based in authoritarian societies know the drill well: Whenever major events that garner international attention take place, the walls restricting access to information come down temporarily for a very few, creating a facade of openness for visiting reporters. It’s just one more symbol of the hypocrisy that underpins such states — and, in this case, a way to distract from the outrageous rights violations happening beyond the glitzy backdrop of the Olympics.

Unfortunately — despite the brave efforts of many journalists, who have still managed to break news and conduct investigations — China’s obstruction of the free press is irrevocably compromising the world’s ability to comprehend and judge its repression. And it’s time to talk about it.

International news organizations rarely publicize when their correspondents are harassed or otherwise stifled from reporting, preferring to maintain the sliver of access they have in a country rather than being forced to report on it from afar. This is a missed opportunity for media outlets to stand up for the free flow of information. There is no simple answer for how to handle these situations, but suffering these abuses in silence only aids the agenda of authoritarians.