As the movement intensified, the government issued a series of laws and regulations, including the Zamboritsu (Defamation Law), the Shinbunshi Jorei (Press Regulations) in 1875, and the Shukai Jorei (Assembly Regulations) in 1880, that suppressed free speech.
民権運動の盛り上がりに対し、政府は讒謗律、新聞紙条例の公布（1875年）、集会条例（1880年）など言論弾圧の法令で対抗した。