A siren-like alert will be sent to mobile phone users across the UK next month to test a new government public warning system.
It allows the government and emergency services to send urgent messages warning the public of life-threatening situations like flooding or wildfires.
The test is expected to take place in the early evening of 23 April.
Phone users will have to acknowledge the alert before they can use other features on their devices.
A message will appear on the home screens of people's devices during the test, with vibration and a loud warning sound that will ring for about 10 seconds, even if the phone is set to silent.
The system - which became operational on Sunday - is being modelled on similar schemes used in the US, Canada, Japan and The Netherlands.
Messages would only ever come from the government or emergency services and will initially focus on the most serious weather-related events, with the ability to get a message to 90% of mobile users within the relevant area.
Terror alerts could be added to the list of potential events that would trigger a notification.
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Weather and terror only. Chances of mission creep?
Had one of these in New York when there was a psychopath who opened fire on a subway in Brooklyn and was on the run for 24 hours. Everyone at the same time looked at their phone and I won’t lie, proper bricked it.
I think it’s a good thing if it’s going to be used for emergencies and targeted in various areas but my did it put the fear of god into me. I think it was the sound and everyone just stopping.
hammers92 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 19, 2023 8:45 pm
I think it’s a good thing if it’s going to be used for emergencies and targeted in various areas but my did it put the fear of god into me. I think it was the sound and everyone just stopping.
Had a weather alert last year while in Halkidiki, sat in a restaurant in the evening and over the space of 2 minutes everyone's phone was going off - to warn us of thunderstorms and flooding........50 miles away.
RichieRiv wrote: ↑Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:47 am
What makes anyone think this is going to work?
Track & Trace App anyone?
Government IT project success rates?
Mistake they make is using IT consultants and the associated massive fees. All they need is someone who knows how to use SMS and mail merge. Put the two together and there you are. But then one or more of their mates might lose out on a few quid.
dasnutnock3 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 20, 2023 1:47 pm
Indeed, the only reason to consider a project of this nature is to divert many billions of taxpayer's money into a tory donor's back pocket.
Are you suggesting Dan, that the government would put profits ahead of public safety...?
the pink palermo wrote: ↑Mon Mar 20, 2023 3:15 pm
Seemingly, you will be unable to use some apps on your phone until after you have acknowledged receipt of the Government text.
Stay off the grid.
This is, without a doubt, a huge infringement of your liberty.
Brothers, sisters, we don't need that fascist groove thang.....
I'm convinced that your either a) some mega-cartel drug leader, or b) a master-mind anarchist who owns the dark web.
My MIL said something this morning about there must be a lot of people in UK with a secret 2nd phone (people in volotile relationships, domestic abuse sufferers etc who have a 2nd phone for an emergency their partner doesn't know about) - surely this will give up the phones location and the secret phone won't be very secret at all? (unless they swich it off as assuming the text/alert won't automatically turn the phone on?)