Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yes, it's kind of political. They also say at the end of the video: "we like all your products, but no single company should be trusted with so much of our data". By driving around as Google and telling others to "turn off their cameras", they remind people that Google is basically spying on them. While not everybody might agree with the message, I think the project is no less manipulative than the Google branding ad…
Your argument is that if Google do it, you could do it? I don't share that opinion, if you consider that manipulative methods are bad, you shouldn't use them. Fight the lie by lying even more?
As a politician or as a company, lying is pretty bad. "Manipulation" through emotional ads is more or less expected though, it would be unprofessional to not use the same tools as everybody else. Just watch any tv ad.
Artists meanwhile enjoy complete freedom in what they do. The more creative and provocative they are, the better.