The first amendment only applies to the government, but it elucidates a natural right all people have, and thus forbids the government from tampering with it. O

The first amendment only applies to the government, but it elucidates a natural right all people have, and thus forbids the government from tampering with it. Other people should also not tamper with it, but enforcing that is beyond the scope of the first amendment. Free speech is a fundamental right, which is why every Western democracy at least pays lip service to the idea.