Not particularly interested in debating whether “told” equals “forced” in this context. I suspect you understood my intention.

I question whether you actually realize the size of metaphorical gun barrel that company would be potentially looking down given the public's attitude on tech companies at the moment.

Government is one of those things where even the appearance of impropriety is as nad as the actual thing. That crossed the line into blatant quid-pro-quo.

Someone putting a literal gun to my head is much different from someone saying that someone else is putting a metaphorical gun to my head.

And yet both have the same outcome. One is compelled at great ost to oneself to comply or otherwise suffer greater, possibly terminal (for that case) future harm.

I'm sorry, but no, I don't buy your assertion. Being in a position of power over someone or something and dropping a line like that is as good as an outright threat of violence, no matter how badly people don't want others to consider it as such because it makes their lives easier, and conscience lighter.