>"Public companies can't admit these things to the public."

The OP's article is based off of a faulty premise, disproven with a simple Google search. Yes. They can and do admit they were wrong, and apologize publicly. It's ridiculous to suggest otherwise:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02...

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-05/05/c_1315692...

http://blog.netflix.com/2010/09/apologies.html

http://blog.games.com/2011/08/03/nintendo-president-apology-...

http://www.cellular-news.com/story/51329.php

etc, etc...