I think any journalist who operates in an environment where they concede that they could be banned at any moment is succumbing to a form of voluntary censorship. I experienced this in South Africa, as others did I am sure and remember the idea of 'banning'.
Having experienced this I assure you it's not the mark of a 'free speech' environment.
You can read about it here. https://www.britannica.com/topic/banning-South-African-law
Banning, in South Africa, an administrative action by which publications, organizations, or assemblies could be outlawed and suppressed and individual persons could be placed under severe restrictions of their freedom of travel, association, and speech. Banning was an important tool in the South
Mike Galsworthy 🦣
JoeChip
Rob Hadley