Advertising Age reported Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity created “integrity standards” designed to address scam entries.
While the new regulations include banning offenders from the contest for up to 3 years, there are no penalties for associated holding companies.
Plus, there are no penalties for identified sexual predators, which undoubtedly angered White women protestors—and relieved lots of Old White Guys.
Not surprisingly, integrity is extremely limited at Cannes Lions.
Cannes Lions updates awards standards following string of controversies
By Brian Bonilla
Following a series of controversies that put a black cloud over this year’s festival, Cannes Lions is introducing new “integrity standards” aimed at tightening verification and accountability for future award submissions.
The new framework will take effect for all entries for the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and comes in response to the dismissal of award-winning work this year over questions of manipulation and other concerns around submissions.
“The industry landscape is changing at lightning speed,” Lions CEO Simon Cook wrote in its statement. “And Cannes Lions is adapting at pace to meet this.”
The new integrity standards will require formal approvals from the leader of the entrant company and a senior marketer; introduce a new fact-checking process that uses human and AI review; provide independent measurement experts to juries; set clear rules on AI use; impose a potential three-year ban for misrepresentation; establish a council to oversee “escalated cases;” and provide annual transparency reporting.
Read the five integrity standards below, laid out by Cannes Lions in the festival’s own words.
1. Ownership and Authorship
Accountability, Partnership and Permission:
Every submission must be approved by the business leader of the entrant company and by a senior marketer from the commissioning brand. These declarations confirm that all submissions, including case films, written submissions, data, and claims—are factually accurate, responsibly sourced, and representative of real world events and outcomes.
2. Veracity of Claims
Rigorous, Two Tier Fact-Checking System
A new dual-layer verification system will combine manual checks with AI-led analysis to interrogate the veracity of claims made by each entry. This marks the first time a human + AI hybrid infrastructure has been institutionalized across the global awards to bolster existing measures.
Objective, Independent Expertise and Support
Cannes Lions Juries will have access to an objective and independent data and measurement expert at their request, throughout judging, to provide further technical scrutiny across impact claims, campaign effectiveness, media impact, and data interpretation.
AI Integrity Handbook
The AI Integrity Handbook will set a global standard for awards integrity in the age of AI, protecting trust, creative legitimacy and transparency. It will outline what is acceptable, what must be disclosed, and what constitutes a breach. This clear and replicable model* is designed for the use of entrants, jurors, and stakeholders—and encouraged for adoption across the industry.
*Informed by OECD AI Principles, Partnership on AI - Synthetic Media Guidelines, and the UNESCO AI Ethics Recommendation.
3. Consequence of Misrepresentation
Disqualification and Withdrawal
Cannes Lions reserves the right to disqualify or withdraw any awards entry at any stage of submission or judging, including after a Lion has been awarded if material misrepresentation is found. This includes the right to request additional documentation or testimony from entrants or clients at the highest level of seniority.
Sanctions for Deliberate Misconduct
Companies found to have willfully submitted false or misleading work may be banned from participation for up to three years. Jury eligibility may also be revoked. All sanctions will be determined through an independent review process to ensure neutral and objective oversight is prioritized.
4. Due Process & Independent Oversight
Independent Integrity Council and Due Process
All escalated cases will be reviewed by a newly established Integrity Council made up of legal, ethical, and neutral industry experts. Entrants will have the right to respond and appeal within a reasonable timeframe.
5. Transparency in Governance
Annual Creative Benchmark Integrity Audit
To ensure transparency, Cannes Lions will publish an annual Integrity Audit documenting an overview of concerns that lead to continuous improvements to the system that underpins the global benchmark for creativity.
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