Grey Singapore’s non-functional refugee-saving app removed from Apple Store, slammed by client, wins at Cannes
Grey Singapore’s ‘I Sea’ app to save refugees from drowning, which was called out as a fake by technology experts yesterday, has been removed from the Apple Store and criticised by the client for not working, but has been awarded at the Cannes Lions advertising awards show.
The app, which supposedly enables people to scan the Mediterranean ocean for stranded boats carrying fleeing migrants, is no longer available for download on Apple Store.
The app, created by Grey’s philanthropic arm Grey for Good for the Migrant Offshore Aid Station, was rounded on by tech writers on Twitter who tested it and found that, among other flaws, an old screenshot was repeatedly being presented as a live image of the ocean, and the weather reading was bogus. One software developer described ‘I Sea’ as a “terrible fake”.
Clearly, the app is horse shit and could never have worked, even if the images were real time.
The Festival’s credibility is on the line here.
An agency has used the world’s media to promote their effort to help refugees under false pretences. There was never a genuine service developed here at all. It’s non-functioning in every possible sense and that helps no-one. That’s not ‘solvertising’ as Grey calls it. That’s good old false advertising plain and simple. And when challenged by media outlets who are understandably irate, rather than admit they’ve misled, Grey deflects with ‘it was a test’ defence.
Grey has used the refugee crisis as a currency for its own selfish gain. This ghastly act of human indecency is up there with News International’s phone hacking scandal.
Terry Savage can’t invite the worlds best technology minds onto the Cannes stage whilst allowing crap like this to be lauded. You and the Festival look like fools and the digital minds you’re so eager to attract have exposed this for what it is. A demonstrable fraud.
Grow a set Terry. This demands censure at the highest levels.
Not overly surprised coming from an agency who’s been born out of the same agency group selling and promoting cigarettes.
Just when you thought we couldn’t go any lower, someone pulls out a shovel.
What about clever buoy? Has that even been made yet despite all its awards?
This is literally disgusting. Have been in the industry for 2 years and every year I am surprised by the level of arrogance from global scam. Shit like this makes you want to leave advertising and never look back.
Honestly, I look forward to the Cannes scam drama more than the actual work now. This is my trashy reality TV.
the advertising industries finest hour…. Again.
Anybody who works in one of the big Aussie agencies knows this is just the tip of the Scamming Iceberg.
If Cannes truly investigated all the entries (especially from Australia) which were designed purely for award season, they probably wouldn’t have a festival. So they won’t. And It devalues any awards won authentically by anybody else – such a pity- Cannes lions used to be something to be proud of. Now i think they’re something which says “i got away with it.”
I wish it wasn’t true but it totally is. Whole meetings around made up campaigns that never even get seen by the client. Digital seems to have made it worse with so many bullshit apps and fake social media campaigns.
I think we’ve hit peak Cannes – they’ve hit the bottom and started digging
Grey Singapore have removed a previous statement on their website about the purpose of the app.
Google Cache still has it.
http://webcache.googleusercont.....#038;gl=au
Cannes scam drama is hands down my favourite time to be reading Mumbrella.
Keep on spilling that truth tea, Mumbrella! I’m loving it.
I think it was an honest effort.
Whether or not, it won at Cannes.