If you call yourself a “free speech absolutist” in 2022, you’re either hopelessly naïve or a dedicated swallower of fascism.
It is worth noting that the folks in the latter category would quickly deprive people of free speech and other sorts of free expression, were they to completely seize the reigns of power.
Some of the hopelessly naive are also the type who, while not overtly fascist, would go along with fascists if they took power. Here in the US, we have a large contingent of what I'll call the anti-authoritarian right. There's a whole spectrum of beliefs covered by that label, so I'm making a huge oversimplification. A perfect example of someone well-known on the anti-authoritarian right who showed his true fascist colors is Alex Jones. He turned from having a strong anti-authoritarian streak to being a diehard Trump supporter over night. I suspect that many of these types of folks comprise a sort of fascist fitfth column, even if -- and especially if -- they lack the self-awareness to recognize the sources and implications of some of their cherished principles.