DORA ushered in a variety of authoritarian social control mechanisms,[1] such as censorship: "No person shall by word of mouth or in writing spread reports likely to cause disaffection or alarm among any of His Majesty's forces or among the civilian population"[2] Anti-war activists, including John MacLean, Willie Gallacher, John William Muir, and Bertrand Russell, were sent to prison.

The film, The Dop Doctor, was prohibited under the Act by the South African government with the justification that its portrayal of Boers during the Siege of Mafeking would antagonise Afrikaners.

That Act (under Section 3(6)) allowed military authorities to jail any Irish person without charge or trial and was repealed in 1953.

The press was subject to controls on reporting troop movements, numbers or any other operational information that would potentially be exploited by the Central Powers.

[7] Section 1(1) of the Defence of the Realm Act 1914 read as follows:[8][9] (1) His Majesty in Council has power during the continuance of the present war to issue regulations as to the powers and duties of the Admiralty and Army Council, and of the members of His Majesty's forces, and other persons acting in His behalf, for securing the public safety and the defence of the realm; and may, by such regulations, authorise the trial by courts martial and punishment of persons contravening any of the provisions of such regulations designed—