The Explanation

An information iron curtain has fallen across large parts of the globe, where access to impartial news reporting and information has never been more difficult. To mark World Press Freedom Day, Ros Atkins and Katie Razzall present a special live event from the BBC Radio Theatre, and consider the impact of censorship and technological controls in Russia, Iran and China; how ingrained state disinformation has become and how it has distorted their citizens’ perception of the world. Our panel also looks at attempts to circumvent internet blocking and state restrictions on free media, from the use of VPNs by those on the inside, to the innovative tactics adopted by outsiders who are trying to deliver truthful news to an often indoctrinated audience.