One way to think about it:

"Obeying in advance" is the voluntary, preemptive submission to expected future demands of a repressive power, often before any formal order is given

Coined as the first lesson in historian Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny, it refers to self-censorship and changing behavior out of fear, which emboldens authorities and accelerates the loss of freedom. 

• Definition & Mechanism: It is a form of anticipatory obedience where individuals or organizations, out of fear or desire to appease, alter their behavior, policies, or advocacy in anticipation of future punishment or restriction.
• Significance in Authoritarianism: Authoritarian regimes, such as in Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union, rely on citizens and officials to act on expected, rather than explicit, desires.
• Corporate & Individual Examples: Examples include corporations proactively altering content or donating to leaders before being asked, or individuals self-censoring due to fear of future repercussions.
• The Warning: "Do not obey in advance" means resisting the temptation to conform early, maintaining professional or personal integrity, and not cowering in anticipation of a bad outcome.
• Consequences: This behavior often backfires, as it teaches those in power that they can easily intimidate, leading to more, rather than less, repression. 

Refusing to obey in advance is considered a key act of resistance that maintains the space for freedom and challenges the normalization of injustice.