[Shalhoub]

"Within 10s of the forward stick input, the A330 had reached a 17˚ nose-down attitude. Its automatic high-speed protection system was triggered 3s later"

What exactly did this 'automatic high-speed protection system ' do?

"As the aircraft pitched down, the aircraft’s captain – who was alone in the cockpit – attempted to disengage the autopilot and pull back on his sidestick"

Surly the autopilot would have disengaged when the pilot moved his seat forward and pushed the sidestick forward at the same time?

"With dual inputs being delivered, the A330’s flight protection system was automatically engaged"

I thought the 'flight protection system' was already engaged. Why would dual imputs trigger the ' flight protection system'

“The initial recovery from the dive was the result of the aircraft’s own protection measures, and not the product of pilot inputs.”

What exactly did the computer do to initiate 'initial recovery'?