The point I’m making here is that a world where these companies have the power to go against the public opinion and the elected government officials would be a scarier one to live in.

If Google and Apple feel powerful enough to uphold the principles of free speech against what seems to be the will of the majority and the incoming administration (for better or worse), what is the source of that power? What else are they confident they can get away with?

This is a long way of saying your frustration is misdirected. If you want stronger free speech, start with the people and the government, not the corporations.