--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: threat or actuality of government…" description: "\"“threat or actuality of government surveillance may psychologically inhibit freedom of speech.”\" — Glenn Greenwald" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d59/glenn-greenwald-1215_communication_threat-or-actuality-of-government-survei_1896330.jpg" --- # threat or actuality of government surveillance may… ![“threat or actuality of government surveillance may psychologically inhibit freedom of speech.” quote by Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d59/glenn-greenwald-1215_communication_threat-or-actuality-of-government-survei_1896330.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d59/glenn-greenwald-1215_communication_threat-or-actuality-of-government-survei_1896330.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d59/glenn-greenwald-1215_communication_threat-or-actuality-of-government-survei_1896330.jpg) > ““threat or actuality of government surveillance may psychologically inhibit freedom of speech.”” [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Government surveillance can create a chilling effect, discouraging free expression. **In simple terms:** Surveillance may silence speech. Key Takeaway Protect privacy to safeguard speech. Themes privacy freedom surveillance psychology Mood cautious serious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - journalism - activism - online forums - public protests Key Concepts civil liberties state power psychological impact Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can reduce chilling effects? - How does surveillance shape public discourse? A Different Perspective Balancing security and liberty remains complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom of speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-of-speech/) [Government surveillance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-surveillance/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [“The record is suffused with examples of groups and individuals being placed under government surveillance by virtue of their dissenting views and activism—Martin Luther…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/the-record-is-suffused-with-examples-of-groups-and-individuals-being/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [Some people in China don't look at freedom of speech as an abstract ideal, but more as a means to an end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yiyun-li/some-people-in-china-don-t-look-at-freedom-of-speech-as-an-abstract/) [Yiyun Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yiyun-li/) > [Too many people - some of them judges - seem to think that freedom of speech means freedom from consequences for what you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/too-many-people-some-of-them-judges-seem-to-think-that-freedom-of/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [I am not against freedom of speech, and I recognise the value of fair publication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-luiz/i-am-not-against-freedom-of-speech-and-i-recognise-the-value-of-fair/) [David Luiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-luiz/) > [We believe in freedom of speech for everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-milei/we-believe-in-freedom-of-speech-for-everybody/) [Javier Milei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-milei/) > [It is open for anyone to have freedom of speech, and I guess we can all play a role in trying to make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/it-is-open-for-anyone-to-have-freedom-of-speech-and-i-guess-we-can/) [Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/) > [We need a free media, not just freedom of speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/we-need-a-free-media-not-just-freedom-of-speech/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [Freedom of speech does not mean disgusting and disrespecting someone or someones faith. Freedom of speech means speaking against the wrong and not against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hqlinesme/freedom-of-speech-does-not-mean-disgusting-and-disrespecting-someone/) HQLinesme > [Freedom of press and freedom of speech: What a blessing for a country while in the hands of honest, patriotic men; what a curse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-h-boetcker/freedom-of-press-and-freedom-of-speech-what-a-blessing-for-a-country/) [William J. H. 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Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/) > [Human life consists of doing certain things ... to take part in the life of the community; to be able to talk about subjects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/human-life-consists-of-doing-certain-things-to-take-part-in-the-life/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) ## More by Glenn Greenwald > [In essence, I see the value of journalism as resting in a twofold mission: informing the public of accurate and vital information, and its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/in-essence-i-see-the-value-of-journalism-as-resting-in-a-twofold/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [“The evidence shows that assurances that surveillance is only targeted at those who “have done something wrong” should provide little comfort, since a state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/the-evidence-shows-that-assurances-that-surveillance-is-only-targeted/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [“It's almost hard to imagine anything more undemocratic than the view that political officials should not debate American wars in public, but only express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/it-s-almost-hard-to-imagine-anything-more-undemocratic-than-the-view/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [It's hardly news that the Obama administration is intensely and, in many respects, unprecedentedly hostile toward the news-gathering process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/it-s-hardly-news-that-the-obama-administration-is-intensely-and-in/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [Only In America can a renowned and devoted terrorism supporter like Peter King be the arbiter of national security and treason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/only-in-america-can-a-renowned-and-devoted-terrorism-supporter-like/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [“Above even our physical well-being, a central value is keeping the state out of the private realm—our “persons, houses, papers, and effects,” as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/above-even-our-physical-well-being-a-central-value-is-keeping-the/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [“That capability at any time could be turned around on the American people and no American would have any privacy left, such is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/that-capability-at-any-time-could-be-turned-around-on-the-american/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [“Converting the Internet into a system of surveillance thus guts it of its core potential. 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