Glossary
Chilling effect
The deterrent effect on free speech caused by the perceived threat of legal or social retaliation — even when no law is broken.
Speech is chilled when speakers self-censor to avoid lawsuits, harassment campaigns, employment consequences, or platform deplatforming. The chilling effect is broader than legal censorship because it operates on the perceived cost of speech, not just its actual legality. Courts in the US use a "chilling effect" analysis when evaluating laws that don't directly ban speech but make engaging in it costly enough to suppress it. Public-interest journalism is especially vulnerable: a single threatening letter can deter a story even if the legal claim is weak. See also: SLAPP, self-censorship.
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