Being protected speech is quite possibly true. Germany, at least, has some laws that would be unconstitutional in the U.S. In the U.S., for instance, it is legal for the K.K.K. to have a parade down main street (Skokie, Illinois). I don't think that would be allowed in Germany. I've also read that in Great Britain there is no legal right to free speech, but you would know better than I would.
I read some article tracing the decision that campaign contributions from corporations are protected free speech back to more aggressive application of the first amendment starting in the 1960's. Don't have a link handy, but the first amendment has had some unexpected consequences.
They are still being surveilled by the FBI as that article reports. The reporting has a split personality of sorts.