I don't think it's miscommunication in anyway. Timnit had submitted dozens of papers before and unless the process requirements are completely new, she would be well aware of them. This seems more of a case of selective enforcement, where she had been allowed to go around the process in the past (or felt that she has enough leverage to be able to do so now) and then not being allowed to do so this time.
This feels like a classic privileged tantrum which has blown up in the face because Google refused to bend this time.
This feels like a classic privileged tantrum which has blown up in the face because Google refused to bend this time.