If this is free speech then the idea seems to have undergone something of a scope creep in recent years. To me that implies an individual without fear of repris

If this is free speech then the idea seems to have undergone something of a scope creep in recent years. To me that implies an individual without fear of reprisal for stating their opinions, not mobilising significant financial resources to organise voter harassment and help the spread of politically-motivated mistruths. We already see similar problems kept in check by the existence of advertising standards and anti-corruption practices; I suspect that we can at least begin to tackle this particular one legislatively with the same sort of thinking.