Principles like "innocent until proven guilty" and "freedom of speech" are important not just because they're somehow inherently "good," but because they are specifically useful tools to prevent abuses of power.
This is why we apply them to governments and their arms specifically, because in the way our society is structured they are nominally at the top of the power hierarchy. The government can imprison or even kill you. It can take away your livelihood or your right to vote. These are unique powers governments have.
So, when looking at whether and how to apply these principles to a situation, it's important to look at the power dynamics involved!
When a government, a major corporation, or a rich and influential person accuses someone else of something, they hold immense power to make that person's life miserable. They may even be able to leverage state power against them, even if they don't directly hold such power! And so it's important to hold them to a very high standard.
But the other way around? When a powerless person accuses a powerful entity of something? It doesn't work the same way, and it's important to recognize that.
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