1. The change does exist (although it apparently has been live for quite some time in some regions at least)
2. The change does have the effect of Google gaining more permissions (and subsequently more data) than previously
3. The author assumes that (2) is the (main) reason why (1) was done in the first place
Regardless of whether (3) is correct or completely wrong - and regardless of whether the author truly believes (3), or only uses it as a rhetorical trick to increase the controversy (and therefore the reach) of their post - both (1) and (2) remain fact.
And (2) is the actual problem here - regardless of whether it was done intentionally by Google or not.
2. The change does have the effect of Google gaining more permissions (and subsequently more data) than previously
3. The author assumes that (2) is the (main) reason why (1) was done in the first place
Regardless of whether (3) is correct or completely wrong - and regardless of whether the author truly believes (3), or only uses it as a rhetorical trick to increase the controversy (and therefore the reach) of their post - both (1) and (2) remain fact.
And (2) is the actual problem here - regardless of whether it was done intentionally by Google or not.