transnational repression

When a government reaches across its borders to watch, intimidate, threaten or harm people living in other countries, most often dissidents, journalists, activists or members of a diaspora.

Tactics include online harassment, surveillance, threats against family members still in the home country, pressure to return, misuse of international police notices and, in the worst cases, abduction or assassination. The FBI treats it as a crime when it happens in the United States, and Freedom House has documented cases carried out by dozens of governments since 2014.

Related terms: Zersetzung tactics, gang stalking, chilling effect

Sources: Transnational repression — FBI · Transnational repression — Freedom House