The 2022 winter Beijing Olympics has renewed concerns over China’s surveillance tactics and repression of free speech, leading many athletes to take steps to control their own privacy, including using burner phones.

Reality Check’s John Avlon speaks with CNN anchor Jim Sciutto about the country’s history of intimidating its critics - both at home and overseas - and how the Chinese government tries to deflect attention from its human rights abuses and diplomatic rows over Hong Kong, Tibet, Xinjiang, and Taiwan.

FBI urges Olympic athletes to leave personal phones at home ahead of Beijing games https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/01/politics/olympics-china-burner-phones/index.html

White House announces US diplomatic boycott of 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing
https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/06/politics/us-diplomatic-boycott-winter-olympics/index.html

From the Beijing Winter Olympics to Xi's likely third term: 5 things to watch in China in 2022
https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/01/china/five-things-to-watch-2022-mic-intl-hnk/index.html

'Some are just psychopaths': Chinese detective in exile reveals extent of torture against Uyghurs
https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/04/china/xinjiang-detective-torture-intl-hnk-dst/index.html

China appoints former paramilitary chief as new Hong Kong garrison commander
https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/10/china/hong-kong-pla-garrison-commander-intl-hnk/index.html