This is not a charitable experiment. Google, like Apple, is under fire from regulators and lawmakers who feel mobile OS manufacturers are exploiting their position to deprive customers of in-app payment choices. It’s also no secret that major developers and media outlets, such as Spotify, Epic Games, and The New York Times, are uniting to demand the ability to use alternative billing. Match Group, Bumble’s major competitor, is even suing Google for suspected antitrust breaches. The test, in theory, helps Google avoid (or at least lessen) penalties and regulatory crackdowns that it may otherwise face.
