I would call these democracies that keep watchlists of people who hold particular opinions flawed at least. Unless those opinions include overthrowing the government (which is - surprise! - not a democratic act).
Is that going in the direction of “A bank denied me a credit card, so Taiwan must be a dictatorship”…?
Otherwise, yes, in a democracy you are free to befriend an opposition leader without fearing to go to prison. Try that in a dictatorship.