Its not tbf.
As for the email thing it just sounds like clickbait. All manu's try and find out what youre testing and how youre testing it. There will be stuff that both camps are worse in, its normal.
It makes sense, Intel making sure that reviewers are not "skipping" certain tests at the request of AMD.
It would be like a Nvidia reviews skipping all DX12 games. Obviously, AMD would request that some DX12 titles are tested for both an honest, well-rounded, review and to showcase their products in a good light.
on the other side of the coin, it would make sense for Nvidia to request that the review isn't DX12 exclusive, includes power consumption data and uses a wide range of titles.
All to showcase products in a well-rounded manner and to not skip important details. At least that is how I see it.
Intel sending emails about Ryzen isn't in itself a bad thing, it is all about the contents. If it is a request to use a certain test it isn't necessarily a bad thing, it only turns bat if they want data manipulation and for reviewers to not use benchmarks that showcase Ryzen's strength is where problems will arise.
Even though Intel were taken to court for it (on more than one occasion) and lost, and had to pay AMD fines. All of which is public information.
Requesting for reviewers to do certain tests is fine, it is when they request that reviewers don't do certain tests is where problems arise.
Intel's anti-competitive practices were with retailers and system builders, not reviewers.