New Study Shows Mass Surveillance Breeds Meekness, Fear and Self-Censorship

http://theintercept.com/2016/04/28/new-study-shows-mass-surveillance-breeds-meekness-fear-and-self-censorship/
Date Written:  2016-04-28
Publisher:  The Intercept
Year Published:  2016
Resource Type:  Article
Cx Number:  CX19338

A newly published study from Oxford's Jon Penney provides empirical evidence for a key argument long made by privacy advocates: that the mere existence of a surveillance state breeds fear and conformity and stifles free expression. Reporting on the study, the Washington Post this morning described this phenomenon: "If we think that authorities are watching our online actions, we might stop visiting certain websites or not say certain things just to avoid seeming suspicious."