Worried about this phone alert?

[ditzylazymummy]

Why would they be doing it? Do you think it could mean they're worried they might need to use it soon?

Every smart phone in this country is traceable to a degree.

All of them.

The gov can (and have -London bombing 2005) shut down the mobile networks.

Why are people so surprised to find that the government, do actually govern this country?

Well yes. That's the OP's point surely? Is there a reason they are introducing it now? Yes they feel they might need it.

Not for me thanks, hijacking your phone is a level of government control I'm not comfortable with. Of course if I get swept away by a tornado on the way to Asda I'll have only myself to blame.

This is hilarious. Very British of you, OP. We have this in the country I live in. The only question really is why has it taken Britain so long to catch up?

These threads are so cute.

I've got to feel sorry for any performers in a Sunday matinee performance or anyone planning in attending the cinema on Sunday afternoon.

PS. It's not too late to order a Faraday Pouch for your phone is you're that worried. https://amzn.to/3KJxkrs

Perhaps if you're a tin-foil hat wearing looney, yes.
The rest of us would probably rather know if there's a life-threatening event we need to be aware of

Your phone was always "hijackable" by the government.

Mobile networks exist with permission from the state, ie the government

Thats going to be a bit awkward if a river bursts its banks...

Not everything is a conspiracy

Welcome to 2023 people!

Not

Invented

Here

I think some of the dafter responses on this thread will tell you why

@moonspiral no it's because we are so shit at organising anything it's taken us longer to get the system in place, no conspiracy theory required

The government, via organisations like GCHQ, has always had the ability to tap into your phone. This is nothing new. You wouldn't even know if it had been done.

@CheeseCakeSunflowers I thought the Queen's death would be announced by church bells playing mournfully!

No

Aliens

Even your local Ambulance service can triangulate the location of your phone if you ring 999.

First contact?

The level of clearance GCHQ need to tap into a phone is UNREAL. Trust me, they’re not just randomly looking at all of our phones. They are not allowed to and would be in big trouble/it’s illegal without SERIOUS concern you’re about to commit an illegal act. You’d be surprised how few people they actually track.

This alert is nothing more than an alert, I have no idea why people are even bothered. It could even prove helpful as I live in a flood prone area. The government are not ‘controlling’ us, they’re too disorganised and frankly can’t be assed knowing what Frank in Tunbridge wells is up to.

Why would you worry about something that is being put in place to help keep you and others safe.

This system has been years in the planning (and we're playing catch-up with all the other countries who already have it) and is utterly unrelated to specific events.

And the government isn't taking "control" of the phone. It's sending a text. alert. from which you can opt out. That's all.

Went to NYC recently and it was used to alert everyone of a teenage girl suspected of being abducted locally. Made everyone aware of her instantly so they could keep an eye out and report sightings - brilliant system.

We have it in Oz, I’m in Sydney so don’t get the extreme weather alerts as not needed but useful for bush fire towns or those prone to floods, we do get a fair amount of missing person alerts.

(not necessarily sinister btw! Just people may be not well etc)