> Does Google refuse to veriy their firmware if they offer this feature?
If a manufacturer doesn't follow the Android CDD (https://source.android.com/docs/compatibility/cdd), Google will not allow them to bundle Google's closed source apps (which include the Google Play store). It was originally a measure to prevent fragmentation. I don't know whether this particular detail (not exposing this particular permission) is part of the CDD.
It's not explicitly part of the CDD, but implicitly. The device must support the Android permissions model and is only allowed to extend this implementation using OWN permissions (in a different namespace than 'android'), but not allowed to deviate from it.
INTERNET is a "normal permission", automatically granted at install time if declared in the manifest.
OEMs cannot change the grant behavior without breaking compatibility because:
The CDD explicitly states that the Android security model must remain intact.
Any deviation would fail CTS (Compatibility Test Suite) and prevent Play certification.
If a manufacturer doesn't follow the Android CDD (https://source.android.com/docs/compatibility/cdd), Google will not allow them to bundle Google's closed source apps (which include the Google Play store). It was originally a measure to prevent fragmentation. I don't know whether this particular detail (not exposing this particular permission) is part of the CDD.