What is being reckoned with is that speech may be technically free but in practice absolutely isn't. Society (various scales of human groups, intentional or accidental, institutional or ad hoc, etc.) has always permitted or welcomed some speech and shunned or prevented others. Everyone thinks a lot about stuff they hide from others. Now thrust that all into the open.
There's an angle of truth to what he's saying. But notice that he's not saying anything about corporate speech codes that prevent Apple or Disney from any criticism of China.