In an autocracy, the concentration of power in a single authority often means that civil rights and liberties can be severely restricted. However, many autocratic regimes may still establish laws or constitutional provisions that ostensibly protect civil rights. These laws might include guarantees of freedom of speech, assembly, or religion, but in practice, they are frequently undermined or ignored.
In such systems, the enforcement of laws can be arbitrary, and the government may prioritize state security or the interests of the ruling authority over individual rights. Legal protections may exist on paper, but the implementation and enforcement often reflect the priorities of the autocratic regime rather than genuine protection of civil liberties.
Overall, while autocracies may have laws that appear to protect civil rights, these laws often lack real effectiveness and enforcement, leading to widespread violations of those rights.