He's using hyperbole to make the argument an emotional one rather than using reason. I'm not sure if he even knows he's doing it or not, the tactic of hyperbole has become so prevalent in today's political discussions.
This is about morality, not legality (which is often perverted anyway).
Hate speech translates into hateful actions, case in point was on display in the US Capitol last week.
This is challenging territory but to frame this as a free speech issue without acknowledging that there are limits to such is not being entirely honest about the matter.
And how is hosting hate speech “equally odious” to hosting photos of abused children anyway?!
You can use the same argument to abolish all free speech, just by claiming that anything your opponent says is equal to abusing children.