[edmundsauto]

> I've been told by well more than a dozen former co-workers that they're afraid to say anything or let anyone at work find out about their political opinions because they're afraid of getting fired

In fairness, there are multiple explanations that don’t involve this being objectively true, while also being how these people perceive their situation.

[brigandish]

True, but as long as people are willing to self censor then it doesn't matter if they would be punished if they spoke out, because they won't. Perceived risk is indistinguishable from actual risk if that risk is avoided by total avoidance.

Aside from that, there are a lot of "cancellations" in the news, even if they're exceptional and only highlighted as a result of sensationalist reporting (or, more conspiratorially, behavioural control) the risk may still be actually too high. You only probably only have to be de-personed once for it to have a lifetime effect.

[coldtea]

Yes, they're not persecuted. They're delluded. As Stalin would say.

[FeepingCreature]

The appearance of persecution has always been a tool of censorship. Chilling effects etc.

It's a lot easier to create the appearance of a threat than to actually persecute lots of people, especially in the current social media landscape.