chilling effect

American  

noun

1. a discouraging or deterring effect, especially one resulting from a restrictive law or regulation.

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Etymology

Origin of chilling effect

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

And Jameel Jaffer, director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, told The New York Times the raid was “intensely concerning,” and could have a chilling effect “on legitimate journalistic activity.”

From Salon

“That creates a chilling effect among protesters.”

From The Wall Street Journal

See more: Nvidia had a chilling effect on these power stocks.

From MarketWatch

Prof Jeremy Horder, a criminal law expert at London School of Economics, said he feared an "over-broad false statement law" could "have an unduly chilling effect on the speech of conscientious people and media outlets".

From BBC

Experts also cite a 2015 Supreme Court ruling that laws criminalising speech must be precise, not vague or overly broad, to avoid a "chilling effect" in which people self-censor for fear of prosecution.

From BBC