Pretty sure there has almost always been a line in the sand where the lower classes will say whatever. You're never going to stop the dumbest squeaky wheels. The difference is where in the classes and at what official level saying something becomes an issue.

Like with free speech in the USA. That means legislative from the federal government.

So like saying is one thing, but leaflets, and a rally, white papers, or other published work by someone with credible academic credentials, are another.