Chilling effect (law)

Chilling effect is a term used to describe the situation when people avoid doing something, even if it is legal, because they are afraid they could get into trouble. For example, if someone thinks they could get in legal trouble for protesting in front of a government building, they might decide not to do it even though it is a legal right. Chilling effect happens when laws, or people in power, create a threatening or oppressive environment that stops people from expressing their opinions.