The threat to individual freedom comes from society.
Society sets standards, moral principles, notions, and requirements that force people to abide by them. Thoughts about political power and behavioral patterns are possible, but from an early age, we are socialized to fit certain patterns.
People who deviate from the norm and slip through the cracks of society may end up being brilliant, unconventional, or socially awkward.
The iconic Charlie Chaplin film "Modern Times" illustrates how each of us turns into a tiny cog in the grinding wheels of modern life and how challenging it is to avoid carrying out all predetermined actions without going insane. Watching Charlie Chaplin movies is definitely rewarding; the man was a genius.
Let's just say that freedom is a good idea. Sadly, none of us have ever encountered it. We can philosophize about it, create theories about it, investigate its logically sound principles, and even sacrifice our lives for it. But we are not completely free, not even inside our own minds. Each of us has accumulated emotional and factual debris that affects our decisions and thoughts.
Modern Times, Charlie Chaplin