The I Sea app purported to locate refugee boats in trouble in the Mediterranean sea and give their location to rescue authorities in Malta. It won an award at the Cannes Lions conference for its alleged efforts. But the I Sea app is nothing more than a lie, according to The Guardian.
An article in the leading British newspaper says the app showed static images of the sea, not live satellite footage as the developers led people to believe. Moreover, it did not show weather in the southern Mediterranean, but weather in west Libya.
I Sea has since been pulled from the App Store for violating its guidelines. The Migrant Offshore Aid Station (Moas), which the app communicated with, has also discontinued its relationship with I Sea.
The app was originally hailed by refugee advocates.
"I Sea" is the 1st crowdsourcing app that allows anyone to help find #refugees on the sea: https://t.co/M9RTkmqyue pic.twitter.com/aR03NmvzI2
— USA for UNHCR (@UNRefugeeAgency) June 15, 2016
The technology-focused Twitter user @SwiftOnSecurity is credited by The Guardian with outing the app as false.
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