You have no more proof of this than he does that it was intentional and strategic.
The UK doesn't even hide the fact that they have a team of psychologists in their "nudge unit" brainstorming how to manipulate people:
Government used 'grossly unethical' fear tactics 'like China' to scare public into following Covid rules, psychologists say
The idea that we can spit ball these ideas on internet forums, but teams of psychologists white-boarding a response full time are completely caught of guard by simple consequences isn't very convincing.