fbpx
Wikipedia

Chilling effect

January 01, 1970

For other uses, see Chilling effect (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Chilling Effects.

In a legal context, a chilling effect is the inhibition or discouragement of the legitimate exercise of natural and legal rights by the threat of legal sanction.[1] A chilling effect may be caused by legal actions such as the passing of a law, the decision of a court, or the threat of a lawsuit; any legal action that would cause people to hesitate to exercise a legitimate right (freedom of speech or otherwise) for fear of legal repercussions. When that fear is brought about by the threat of a libel lawsuit, it is called libel chill.[2] A lawsuit initiated specifically for the purpose of creating a chilling effect may be called a strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP).

"Chilling" in this context normally implies an undesirable slowing. Outside the legal context in common usage; any coercion or threat of coercion (or other unpleasantries) can have a chilling effect on a group of people regarding a specific behavior, and often can be statistically measured or be plainly observed. For example, the news headline "Flood insurance [price] spikes have chilling effect on some home sales,"[3] and the abstract title of a two-part survey of 160 college students involved in dating relationships: "The chilling effect of aggressive potential on the expression of complaints in intimate relationships."[4]

Usage edit

In United States and Canadian law, the term chilling effects refers to the stifling effect that vague or excessively broad laws may have on legitimate speech activity.[5]

However, the term is also now commonly used outside American legal jargon, such as the chilling effects of high prices[3] or of corrupt police, or of "anticipated aggressive repercussions" (in say, personal relationships[4]).

A chilling effect is an effect that reduces, suppresses, discourages, delays, or otherwise retards reporting concerns of any kind.

An example of the "chilling effect" in Canadian case law can be found in Iorfida v. MacIntyre where the constitutionality of a criminal law prohibiting the publication of literature depicting illicit drug use was challenged. The court found that the law had a "chilling effect" on legitimate forms of expression and could stifle political debate on issues such as the legalization of marijuana.[6] The court noted that it did not adopt the same "chilling effect" analysis used in American law but considered the chilling effect of the law as a part of its own analysis.[7]

Regarding Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu's case in Turkey, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said that Turkey's mis-use of counter-terrorism measures can have a chilling effect on the enjoyment of fundamental freedoms and human rights.[8]

History edit

In 1644 John Milton expressed the chilling effect of censorship in Areopagitica:

For to distrust the judgement and the honesty of one who hath but a common repute in learning and never yet offended, as not to count him fit to print his mind without a tutor or examiner, lest he should drop a schism or something of corruption, is the greatest displeasure and indignity to a free and knowing spirit that can be put upon him.[9]

The term chilling effect has been in use in the United States since as early as 1950.[10] The United States Supreme Court first refers to the "chilling effect" in the context of the United States Constitution in Wieman v. Updegraff in 1952.[11]

It, however, became further used as a legal term when William J. Brennan, a justice of the United States Supreme Court, used it in a judicial decision (Lamont v. Postmaster General) which overturned a law requiring a postal patron receiving "communist political propaganda"[12] to specifically authorize the delivery.[13]

The Lamont case, however, did not center around a law that explicitly stifles free speech. The "chilling effect" referred to at the time was a "deterrent effect" on freedom of expression—even when there is no law explicitly prohibiting it. However, in general, the term "chilling effect" is also used in reference to laws or actions that may not explicitly prohibit legitimate speech, but rather impose undue burden on speech.[14]

Chilling effects on Wikipedia users edit

Edward Snowden disclosed in 2013 that the US government's Upstream program was collecting data on people reading Wikipedia articles. This revelation had significant impact on the self-censorship of the readers, as shown by the fact that there were substantially fewer views for articles related to terrorism and security.[15] The court case Wikimedia Foundation v. NSA has since followed.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ chilling effect. (n.d.). Retrieved October 19, 2011, from http://law.yourdictionary.com/chilling-effect
  2. ^ Green, Allen (October 15, 2009). "Banish the libel chill". The Guardian.
  3. ^ a b . WWL‑TV Eyewitness News. October 15, 2013. Archived from the original on November 19, 2013. Realtors say [price spikes are] already causing home sales to fall through when buyers realize they can't afford the flood insurance.
  4. ^ a b Cloven, Denise H.; Roloff, Michael E. (1993). "The Chilling Effect of Aggressive Potential on The Expression of Complaints in Intimate Relationships". Communication Monographs. 60 (3): 199–219. doi:10.1080/03637759309376309. A two-part survey of 160 college students involved in dating relationships ... . This chilling effect was greater when individuals who generally feared conflict anticipated aggressive repercussions (p < .001), and when people anticipated symbolic aggression from relationally independent partners (p < .05).
  5. ^ "censorship-reports-striking-a-balance-hate-speech-freedom-of-expression-and-nondiscrimination-1992-431-pp". doi:10.1163/2210-7975_hrd-2210-0079. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ^ Iorfida v. MacIntyre, 1994 CanLII 7341 (ON SC)at para. 20, <"CanLII - 1994 CanLII 7341 (ON SC)". Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved October 25, 2011.> retrieved on 2011-10-25
  7. ^ Iorfida v. MacIntyre, 1994 CanLII 7341 (ON SC) at para. 37, <"CanLII - 1994 CanLII 7341 (ON SC)". Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved October 25, 2011.> retrieved on 2011-10-25
  8. ^ "OHCHR | Press briefing notes on Turkey".
  9. ^ John Milton (1644) Areopagitica, edited by George H. Sabine (1951), page 29, Appleton-Century-Crofts
  10. ^ Freund, Paul A. "4 Vanderbilt Law Review 533, at 539 (1950–1951): The Supreme Court and Civil Liberties".
  11. ^ "The Chilling Effect in Constitutional Law". Columbia Law Review. 69 (5): 808–842. May 1969. doi:10.2307/1121147. JSTOR 1121147.
  12. ^ Safire, William (July 20, 2005). "Safire Urges Federal Journalist Shield Law". Center For Individual Freedom. Retrieved June 18, 2008. Justice Brennan reported having written a 1965 decision striking down a state's intrusion on civil liberty because of its "chilling effect upon the exercise of First Amendment rights..."
  13. ^ "LAMONT V. POSTMASTER GENERAL, 381 U. S. 301 (1965)". Justia. Retrieved June 18, 2008.
  14. ^ Rissman, Joshua (February 3, 2017). "Put it on Ice: Chilling Free Speech at National Conventions". Minnesota Journal of Law & Inequality. 27 (2): 413. ISSN 0737-089X. "A "chilling effect" describes a situation in which speech or conduct is inhibited or discouraged by fear of penalization, prompting self-censorship and therefore hampering free speech. 3 A law or police action need not explicitly prohibit legitimate speech to create a chilling effect; the actions of the government must merely pose an undue burden and deterrent effect on freedom of expression. 4 "
  15. ^ Penney, Jonathon W. (2016). "Chilling Effects: Online Surveillance and Wikipedia Use". Berkeley Technology Law Journal. doi:10.15779/z38ss13. Retrieved August 20, 2019.

Further reading edit

  • Bedi, Suneal. "The Myth of the Chilling Effect." Harvard Journal of Law and Technology, vol. 35, no. 1 (Fall 2021), pp. 267-307.
  • Cato Policy Analysis No. 270[dead link] Chilling The Internet? Lessons from FCC Regulation of Radio Broadcasting
  • Libel Reform Campaign March 2, 2021, at the Wayback Machine The Chilling Effect of English libel law
  • Penney, Jonathon W. "Understanding Chilling Effects." Minnesota Law Review, vol. 106, no. 3 (2022), pp. 1451-1530.

External links edit

  • Lumen, containing many current examples of alleged chilling effects

January 01, 1970
chilling, effect, other, uses, disambiguation, confused, with, chilling, effects, legal, context, chilling, effect, inhibition, discouragement, legitimate, exercise, natural, legal, rights, threat, legal, sanction, chilling, effect, caused, legal, actions, suc. For other uses see Chilling effect disambiguation Not to be confused with Chilling Effects In a legal context a chilling effect is the inhibition or discouragement of the legitimate exercise of natural and legal rights by the threat of legal sanction 1 A chilling effect may be caused by legal actions such as the passing of a law the decision of a court or the threat of a lawsuit any legal action that would cause people to hesitate to exercise a legitimate right freedom of speech or otherwise for fear of legal repercussions When that fear is brought about by the threat of a libel lawsuit it is called libel chill 2 A lawsuit initiated specifically for the purpose of creating a chilling effect may be called a strategic lawsuit against public participation SLAPP Chilling in this context normally implies an undesirable slowing Outside the legal context in common usage any coercion or threat of coercion or other unpleasantries can have a chilling effect on a group of people regarding a specific behavior and often can be statistically measured or be plainly observed For example the news headline Flood insurance price spikes have chilling effect on some home sales 3 and the abstract title of a two part survey of 160 college students involved in dating relationships The chilling effect of aggressive potential on the expression of complaints in intimate relationships 4 Contents 1 Usage 2 History 2 1 Chilling effects on Wikipedia users 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksUsage editIn United States and Canadian law the term chilling effects refers to the stifling effect that vague or excessively broad laws may have on legitimate speech activity 5 However the term is also now commonly used outside American legal jargon such as the chilling effects of high prices 3 or of corrupt police or of anticipated aggressive repercussions in say personal relationships 4 A chilling effect is an effect that reduces suppresses discourages delays or otherwise retards reporting concerns of any kind An example of the chilling effect in Canadian case law can be found in Iorfida v MacIntyre where the constitutionality of a criminal law prohibiting the publication of literature depicting illicit drug use was challenged The court found that the law had a chilling effect on legitimate forms of expression and could stifle political debate on issues such as the legalization of marijuana 6 The court noted that it did not adopt the same chilling effect analysis used in American law but considered the chilling effect of the law as a part of its own analysis 7 Regarding Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu s case in Turkey the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights OHCHR said that Turkey s mis use of counter terrorism measures can have a chilling effect on the enjoyment of fundamental freedoms and human rights 8 History editIn 1644 John Milton expressed the chilling effect of censorship in Areopagitica For to distrust the judgement and the honesty of one who hath but a common repute in learning and never yet offended as not to count him fit to print his mind without a tutor or examiner lest he should drop a schism or something of corruption is the greatest displeasure and indignity to a free and knowing spirit that can be put upon him 9 The term chilling effect has been in use in the United States since as early as 1950 10 The United States Supreme Court first refers to the chilling effect in the context of the United States Constitution in Wieman v Updegraff in 1952 11 It however became further used as a legal term when William J Brennan a justice of the United States Supreme Court used it in a judicial decision Lamont v Postmaster General which overturned a law requiring a postal patron receiving communist political propaganda 12 to specifically authorize the delivery 13 The Lamont case however did not center around a law that explicitly stifles free speech The chilling effect referred to at the time was a deterrent effect on freedom of expression even when there is no law explicitly prohibiting it However in general the term chilling effect is also used in reference to laws or actions that may not explicitly prohibit legitimate speech but rather impose undue burden on speech 14 Chilling effects on Wikipedia users edit Edward Snowden disclosed in 2013 that the US government s Upstream program was collecting data on people reading Wikipedia articles This revelation had significant impact on the self censorship of the readers as shown by the fact that there were substantially fewer views for articles related to terrorism and security 15 The court case Wikimedia Foundation v NSA has since followed See also editCensorship Culture of fear Cancel culture Democratic backsliding Fear mongering Media transparency Opinion corridor Prior restraint Self censorship Strategic lawsuit against public participationReferences edit chilling effect n d Retrieved October 19 2011 from http law yourdictionary com chilling effect Green Allen October 15 2009 Banish the libel chill The Guardian a b Flood insurance spikes have chilling effect on some home sales WWL TV Eyewitness News October 15 2013 Archived from the original on November 19 2013 Realtors say price spikes are already causing home sales to fall through when buyers realize they can t afford the flood insurance a b Cloven Denise H Roloff Michael E 1993 The Chilling Effect of Aggressive Potential on The Expression of Complaints in Intimate Relationships Communication Monographs 60 3 199 219 doi 10 1080 03637759309376309 A two part survey of 160 college students involved in dating relationships This chilling effect was greater when individuals who generally feared conflict anticipated aggressive repercussions p lt 001 and when people anticipated symbolic aggression from relationally independent partners p lt 05 censorship reports striking a balance hate speech freedom of expression and nondiscrimination 1992 431 pp doi 10 1163 2210 7975 hrd 2210 0079 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Iorfida v MacIntyre 1994 CanLII 7341 ON SC at para 20 lt CanLII 1994 CanLII 7341 ON SC Archived from the original on July 13 2012 Retrieved October 25 2011 gt retrieved on 2011 10 25 Iorfida v MacIntyre 1994 CanLII 7341 ON SC at para 37 lt CanLII 1994 CanLII 7341 ON SC Archived from the original on July 13 2012 Retrieved October 25 2011 gt retrieved on 2011 10 25 OHCHR Press briefing notes on Turkey John Milton 1644 Areopagitica edited by George H Sabine 1951 page 29 Appleton Century Crofts Freund Paul A 4 Vanderbilt Law Review 533 at 539 1950 1951 The Supreme Court and Civil Liberties The Chilling Effect in Constitutional Law Columbia Law Review 69 5 808 842 May 1969 doi 10 2307 1121147 JSTOR 1121147 Safire William July 20 2005 Safire Urges Federal Journalist Shield Law Center For Individual Freedom Retrieved June 18 2008 Justice Brennan reported having written a 1965 decision striking down a state s intrusion on civil liberty because of its chilling effect upon the exercise of First Amendment rights LAMONT V POSTMASTER GENERAL 381 U S 301 1965 Justia Retrieved June 18 2008 Rissman Joshua February 3 2017 Put it on Ice Chilling Free Speech at National Conventions Minnesota Journal of Law amp Inequality 27 2 413 ISSN 0737 089X A chilling effect describes a situation in which speech or conduct is inhibited or discouraged by fear of penalization prompting self censorship and therefore hampering free speech 3 A law or police action need not explicitly prohibit legitimate speech to create a chilling effect the actions of the government must merely pose an undue burden and deterrent effect on freedom of expression 4 Penney Jonathon W 2016 Chilling Effects Online Surveillance and Wikipedia Use Berkeley Technology Law Journal doi 10 15779 z38ss13 Retrieved August 20 2019 Further reading editBedi Suneal The Myth of the Chilling Effect Harvard Journal of Law and Technology vol 35 no 1 Fall 2021 pp 267 307 Cato Policy Analysis No 270 dead link Chilling The Internet Lessons from FCC Regulation of Radio Broadcasting Libel Reform Campaign Archived March 2 2021 at the Wayback Machine The Chilling Effect of English libel law Penney Jonathon W Understanding Chilling Effects Minnesota Law Review vol 106 no 3 2022 pp 1451 1530 External links editLumen containing many current examples of alleged chilling effects Terms associated with libel cases Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chilling effect amp oldid 1219958005, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.