The Cold War and the Second Red Scare had a significant impact on civil liberties in the United States. The policies and anti-communism of the era led to a climate of fear and suspicion, which resulted in the suppression of free speech, association, and other civil liberties. One of the most significant examples of this was the McCarthyism era, which saw the government launch a campaign against alleged communists and their sympathizers. This campaign led to the persecution of many innocent individuals, who were accused of being communist sympathizers and were subjected to investigations, blacklisting, and other forms of discrimination. The Hollywood Ten, a group of Hollywood writers and directors who were accused of being communists, were some of the most prominent victims of this campaign. They were blacklisted and prevented from working in the film industry for years.
Another example of the impact of the Cold War on civil liberties in the United States was the government's surveillance of citizens. The government used various tools, including wiretapping and other forms of surveillance, to monitor suspected communist sympathizers. This surveillance led to the violation of privacy rights and other civil liberties. The FBI's COINTELPRO program, which targeted civil rights activists and other dissidents, was one of the most notorious examples of this surveillance. The program involved the use of illegal and unethical tactics, such as wiretapping, blackmail so on