January 8, 2006
SMS Alerts A Disaster?
Various initiatives are under way using SMS as a way to alert people when there is an emergency situation. But while SMS might seem to be an obvious solution, there are some issues such as privacy that need careful consideration before being rolled out too quickly. Mike Grenville reports for 160characters.org.
"One problem with using SMS is that you might be asleep with your phone turned off and so not receive the message. The Japanese government is testing a system that will enable an emergency-broadcast signal to be broadcast to specially designed mobile phones capable of being switched on remotely.
The ministry plans to test the system in Sapporo in April 2006, piggybacking a new broadcasting system, called One Seg, that is being set up to enable television programs to be played on mobiles.
The ministry believes using text messages would help people evacuate a disaster area safely reduce the impact of a disaster situation. It hopes to be able to implement the system within a few years.
How citizens will respond to the idea that their government can turn on their phones and broadcast messages to them at any time may depend on how responsibly it is used in practice.
Related:
-- A project underway in the Netherlands may raise such concerns. In August 2004 the Dutch Ministry of Economic affairs commissioned LogicaCMG to build the world’s first government sponsored mobile alert system based on cell broadcast (CB) technology.
-- The other issues with SMS alarm systems is the potential for spoofing. The Malaysian government recently had to advise the public not to believe text messages being circulated ahead of the first anniversary of the Tsunami which warned of the possibility of tsunami occurrences this month or in January.
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