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Freedom of Speech has and will be suppressed by various governments, with various reasons being given. This has been going on for longer than any of us have been alive.

e.g.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedition_Act_of_1918

There is nothing unique about what is happening now.

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A peculiar bit of whataboutism.

It literally isn't whataboutism.

It is a statement of fact about the nature of the US state (and would apply to most western ones tbh). Freedom of Speech is simply a privilege that those in power grant you when it is convenient to do so. It will be taken away when expedient to do so.

The post I was replying to seemed to believe it was a novel situation.

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