Chilling effect

Chilling effect is when something (usually an event or a law) makes people scared to do something they otherwise might have. This often happens when people are afraid of getting in trouble or being punished in some way. For example, if a person says something that could be considered offensive or damaging to someone else, they might be worried that they will get in trouble or be made fun of by others. This fear can cause them to not say anything at all, which is the chilling effect.