autocensurarse

To self-censor — hold back one's own speech, writing, or art out of fear, caution, or social pressure rather than an outside ban: el periodista se autocensuró para evitar represalias. Frequent in journalism, free-speech, and media-freedom discussions.

• Muchos periodistas se autocensuran para evitar represalias. — Many journalists self-censor to avoid retaliation.
• El escritor admitió que se autocensuraba por miedo a la crítica. — The writer admitted he self-censored out of fear of criticism.
• En regímenes autoritarios, la gente aprende a autocensurarse. — In authoritarian regimes, people learn to self-censor.

Confusing autocensurarse (holding yourself back voluntarily) with ser censurado (being censored by someone else) — the auto- prefix is the whole point: the restriction comes from within, not from an external authority.

Often confused with censurar.