"freedom of speech" refers to specific legal principles related to what kinds of reprisals the US federal government can take against you for speech (fun fact: there are types of speech which can send you to jail [0]). It has nothing to do with what kinds of actions society can take against you, or private citizens, or private institutions.

This is an article about astroturfing.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_free_speech_exce...

>"freedom of speech" refers to specific legal principles related to what kinds of reprisals the US federal government can take against you for speech

Legally yes, but colloquially it includes non-governmental actions[1].

[1] https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/freedom_of_speech