chilling effect

American  

noun

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

---

Etymology

Origin of chilling effect

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

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

The effect has had a chilling effect on many immigrant communities and even among Americans of Latino descent.

From Los Angeles Times

But the high-stakes legal environment also had a chilling effect on economic development in Hollywood, he said, with national real estate companies pursuing projects elsewhere.

From Los Angeles Times

Press rights advocates have expressed concern that the administration’s approach could have a chilling effect on coverage and imperil journalists.

From The Wall Street Journal

The lawsuit had a chilling effect on the real-estate industry, which has become more reliant on software and data services in recent years.

From The Wall Street Journal