libel chill
n.β Β«The Liberal party announced later there would be no apology. “This is what is known as βlibel chill”βusing the threat of a libel suit to remove an issue from where it should be rightfully debated: before the Canadian public.”Β» ββLiberals shrug off PMβs lawsuit threat over Cadman allegations” by Norma Greenaway, Juliet O’Neill National Post (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada) Mar. 3, 2008. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)