“The official reason given by Google for the removal of #Fediverse apps is that these apps can be used to access […] content which are dedicated to hate speech.”

https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/blog/google-is-removing-fediverse-apps-from-the-play-store-because-they-can-be-used-to-access-hate-speech/ (hat tip to @Rigby_Koyaanisqatsi)

Somehow this doesn't motivate removal of other apps from Google's app store. What could explain this difference?

A better explanation, from @pluralistic: https://locusmag.com/2020/09/cory-doctorow-ip/

“The more freedom you have to leave Google, the bigger a risk you pres­ent to Google.”