Emergency Alert!

It seems to now be widely reported, so is not looking like a scam, which was my first thought. Don't see a problem with it, as it seems that after the initial message you can actually opt out in your Smartphone settings if you wish. So no long term invasion of privacy, I guess. Who knows, it may even prove useful. Wonder what it's costing the taxpayer...

there are so few police stations now, so doubt if there are many working aid raid sirens anyway.
i got alerts about local covid outbreaks etc during pandemic.
it is a good way of reaching most of the population in an emergency.

I too think it is a good idea.

Like Welbeck and Visgirl I think it is a good idea.

If all goes to plan, DH and I will be cruising on that evening between Honfleur and La Rochelle! I wonder if it will reach me in the Bay of Biscay?!

Doesn't really bother me, think it's a good thing.
I was in New York a few years ago and my phone picked up an Alert for a missing Child.

Be interesting for those that go to an evening church service😲

It does have some elements of intrusiveness. On the other hand, if you live in a flood risk area, it could be really useful and a lifesaver. Being warned of a major fire or similar danger is useful too. Better to use modern technology than Second World War air raid sirens!

However, the place I'm going to that evening - so I've been told - has no mobile signal. I wonder what will happen in those circumstances

i think it is a good thing.
i welcome it.

Apparently we are one of the few countries (UK) that doesn't already have a mobile phone alarm system in place.

On Mumsnet quite a few posters have reported that this is the norm in their Country.
One poster from the US says it quite interesting, when everyones phone goes off at once in the grocery store.

Here's the link to the Gov.uk site, it IS happening on Sunday April 23rd.

www.gov.uk/government/news/launch-of-life-saving-public-emergency-alerts

Germanshepherdsmum

Where did you find about this? It seems very unlikely.

It is a true thing, reported on Sky New and The Guardian.

I'm dead then as I haven't got a mobile phone! What a farce.

Where did you find about this? It seems very unlikely.

I read the same as Auntieflo. I imagine the directive would go to the mobile phone companies who would then forward on to all their customers. Your phone can be tracked, you yourself can use the "find my phone" unless you have an older one, track & trace, cookies & tracking on the internet, camera's and facial recognition. The realties of the modern world whether we like it or not.

I read about this, this morning and I believe that after the initial one, you will be able to turn off these notifications in the phone settings. Not sure how true this information is though.