Responding to me, Una McCormack wrote:

...

I would certainly think so. But I do wonder to what extent the Federation attempts to preserve an illusion that freedom of speech exists...

I'd say very little. I don't see the Federation as being as subtle as that, I suppose.

I think they *are* fairly subtle in some ways. Certainly, as we see in TWB, they apparently try very hard to preserve the illusion of a fair justice system. I think freedom of speech might well be a different issue, though. It's very easy to put a spin on the issue that says "Those dangerous subversives shouldn't be allowed to corrupt the minds of our children with their misguided ideas" or something like that.