It was more like a favor unto him instead of interfering with his free will.
If any sane person is told "You will be punished for using the internet" by the authority that has ultimate power, then that sane person would change his actions and repent.
Abu Lahab was clearly given a favor and yet he didn't avail it and he persisted in his evildoings. Surely ALLAH Azawajal knows the Past, Present and Future and beyond.
His enmity towards the Prophet Muhammad and Islam was not hidden from anyone:
When Muhammad announced that he had been instructed by God to spread the message of Islam openly, the Quran told him to warn his kinsfolk about divine punishment. He therefore climbed Mount Ṣafā and shouted: "Wa ṣabāḥah!" which means, "O calamity of the morning!" In Arabia this alarm was traditionally raised by any person who noticed an enemy tribe advancing against his own tribe at dawn.
On hearing this, the inhabitants of Mecca assembled at the mountain. Muhammad then addressed the clans by name. "O Banū Hāshim, O Banū 'Abd al-Muṭallib ... [and so on], if I were to tell you that behind this hill there is an enemy about to attack you, would you believe me?" The people responded that they would, since Muhammad was known to be honest. He continued saying: "Then I warn you that you are heading for a torment."
At this point, Abu Lahab interrupted: "Woe be on you the rest of the day! Is that what you summoned us for?"[12] Another tradition recalls Abū Lahab picking up a stone to throw at his nephew.[citation needed]
Abu Lahab said, "Muhammad promises me things which I do not see. He alleges that they will happen after my death; what has he put in my hands after that?” Then he blew on his hands and said, “May you perish. I can see nothing in you of the things that Muhammad says.”[13]
ALLAH does not like the Arrogant ones. It has been mentioned in the Quran o Sunnah.
..... Verify, ALLAH likes not the Arrogant and boaster..... (Al-Quran 31:18-19)
And
يُثَبِّتُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِالْقَوْلِ الثَّابِتِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ ۖ وَيُضِلُّ اللَّهُ الظَّالِمِينَ ۚ وَيَفْعَلُ اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاءُ
Allah keeps firm those who believe, with the firm word, in worldly life and in the Hereafter. And Allah sends astray the wrongdoers. And Allah does what He wills. 14:27
Furthermore:
إِن تَحْرِصْ عَلَىٰ هُدَاهُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي مَن يُضِلُّ ۖ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن نَّاصِرِينَ
[Even] if you should strive for their guidance, [O Muhammad], indeed, Allah does not guide those He sends astray, and they will have no helpers. 16:37
And
6:110 And We divert their hearts and eyesight, as they did not believe in it the first time; and We leave them wandering in their transgression.
And
7:177 Miserable is the example of the people who denied Our revelations, and it was their souls that they had wronged.
7:178 Whoever God guides, then he is the guided one; and whoever He misguides, then these are the losers.
These ayats point out the people who have wronged and have went astray and ALLAH has let them stay that way. As clearly stated, if they deny the revelations, they will have no helpers.
