I think in this example, it can definitely be said to be manipulative and deceitful. Schmidt's agenda seems to be actively silencing reporting that describes them as using their near monopoly power to their own benefit. In this example, it seems to quell murmurs that maybe the Google is a monopoly that is abusing it's power in the US. I'm sure they don't want to go through what Microsoft went through in 2001.

I mean show me some think tanks that don't disperse manipulative and deceitful research and I could change my mind about said individual think tank, but as a general rule, I stand by my statement.