Legal Definitions - chilling effect

A chilling effect is when a law or practice makes people afraid to exercise their constitutional rights, like the right to free speech or the right to appeal. It can also happen when any practice makes people afraid to do something.

One example of a chilling effect is when a government passes a law that makes it illegal to criticize the government. People might be afraid to speak out against the government because they don't want to get in trouble.

Another example is when a company sues someone for speaking out against them. Even if the person is telling the truth, the lawsuit might make other people afraid to speak out against the company.

These examples show how a chilling effect can discourage people from exercising their right to free speech. It can also discourage people from doing other things, like appealing a court decision or reporting a crime.