"Free speech" usually refers to the freedom to say what you want without the state giving you consequences for what you say.

In Germany, for example, you can say almost anything you want and no-one will give a hoot. If you're truly interested, here's some background for Germany in particular https://www.deutschland.de/en/topic/politics/freedom-of-expr...

And reporters without borders has a world press freedom index that ranks the US on place... 57 - behind most of Europe. https://rsf.org/en/index