The UK government has launched the new Emergency Alerts service, which will send a test message to all UK smartphones with access to 4G and 5G networks next month. The service was trialled in East Suffolk and Reading in 2021 and is now available nationwide. The alerts will provide a loud siren-like sound and vibration for up to 10 seconds, along with a message on the phone’s home screen until the user acknowledges it. The service aims to reach almost 90% of mobile phones in a defined area and will revolutionize the government’s ability to warn and inform people who are in immediate danger. Individuals can turn off the alerts by toggling off ’emergency alerts’ in their phone’s settings. The alerts will not work on Wi-Fi only phones, devices that are turned off or in airplane mode, or those connected to a 2G or 3G network. Additionally, the alerts are not compatible with iPhones running on iOS 14.5 or earlier or Android phones or tablets operating on Android 11 or earlier.
The UK government has launched its new Emergency Alerts service, and all UK smartphones with access to 4G and 5G networks will receive a test emergency alert next month. The trial of the system was conducted in East Suffolk and Reading in 2021, and the service is now online nationwide. The test message will be sent to almost 90% of mobile phones in a defined area. Smartphone users will hear a “loud siren-like sound” and feel a vibration for up to 10 seconds, even if the phone is on silent. A message will remain on the phone’s home screen until it is acknowledged, after which the user can regain access to other phone features.
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Oliver Dowden MP, said that the emergency alert system would strengthen the UK’s national resilience against various threats such as flooding and wildfires. The system will help keep people safe and revolutionize the government’s ability to warn and inform individuals who are in immediate danger.
The Cabinet Office shared a tweet to provide a preview of what the alert will look like on smartphones. However, the announcement has received mixed reactions from Twitter users. Some are concerned about the potential risk to those experiencing domestic violence, while others are skeptical about the government’s access to individuals’ phones and the possibility of receiving propaganda.
The UK government has clarified that the alerts will not be used to “spam” individuals, and the system will only be used to warn about an immediate threat to life. Additionally, the system does not use personal data of smartphone users. The alerts will be broadcasted through the cell tower that the phone is connected to when the alert is triggered.
The Emergency Alerts service aims to strengthen the UK’s national resilience and ability to warn and inform people in immediate danger. The test message will be sent to all UK smartphones with access to 4G and 5G networks next month, and it will provide smartphone users with a preview of what the alert will look like on their phones.
The UK government will not need to know the specific location or personal data on a device to use the Emergency Alerts service. However, individuals can turn off the alerts by toggling off ’emergency alerts’ in their phone’s settings. The alerts will not work on Wi-Fi only phones, devices that are turned off or in airplane mode, or those connected to a 2G or 3G network. Additionally, the alerts are not compatible with iPhones running on iOS 14.5 or earlier or Android phones or tablets operating on Android 11 or earlier.
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