Thursday, April 2, 2015

Google Malaysia denies awarding teen over translation app

Google Malaysia has denied awarding any money or project to a teenager who created an app for an Internet-based messaging service that can provide instantaneous language translation.

Fifteen-year-old Yusrim Karim, who submitted his app - Coker Chat to Google Idea - said he received an e-mail from Google Ideas, claiming that his software was fantastic and offered him a chance to work on a US$36mil (RM1333.14mil) project or US$50,000 (RM184,910) cash.

The Form Three student from Sandakan claimed he chose the cash.

According to Google Malaysia's head of communications and public affairs department, Zeffri Yusoff, the story was “completely incorrect”, and said there was no such competition organised by Google Ideas.

“I checked with Google Ideas and they did not send any e-mail to the boy.

“I can only speculate for now. The boy might have received a spam email,” said Zeffri when contacted by The Star Online on Thursday.

Google Malaysia also sent a statement clarifying that the article Student wins Google Award is factually wrong.

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