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?

That’s great they can help with missing people alerts! Anything that gets vulnerable people, especially kids if they’ve been abducted, potentially found quicker is great in my book

I don't know why people are losing their minds over this!!! 🙄

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.

Sorry. but "trust me" doesn't work for me. Only recently - and that's using the equivalent of a lego set compared to what GCHQ have to play with.

https://www.theregister.com/2023/04/18/ico_surrey_sussex_police/

I find conspiracy theorists’ faith in the government’s ability to get things done quickly and not leak its nefarious plans quite touching

@Coffeeandbourbons Actually I was thinking about the partners and family of the people who are cheating or criminal, who may thus far be blissfully unaware.

So sorry I missed your contribution to a different thread, how terribly remiss of me.

The government can tap your house phone, read your mail correspondence etc. You’re incredibly naive if you think your smart phone was private before this!

Be thankful you don't live in New York..... their recent public information film about what to do in the event of nuclear attack actually made "Duck and Cover" look like good advice.

In terms of this alert thing - meh - whatever. Might be useful, might be utterly pointless- won't know until we get a real world scenario really.

It does beat the system that existed in outlying villages in the Cold War years for notifying of impending nuclear annihilation- it's shown in an old Panorama I think - basically the local pub had a red phone. The publican would get the call and then would cycle round the village shouting the news. I swear I am not making this up.

Had it last time we were visiting relatives in Spain.

Don’t think it means anything is imminent

Do people who are worried about this, not have smart phones?

Whenever we go to america we receive at least one Amber alert. (Look out for this criminal/missing kid/bad rather) I imagine it’s the same thing.

It doesn’t mean anything. I’ve received them in the US for weather and also missing child alerts. We are behind as loads of countries use them.

It’s all those adulterers out there with secret second phones who need to be worried!

In what way?

How are they going to “abuse” the ability to send alerts to our phones? I’m sure the people at risk when Toddbrook Reservoir nearly flooded all their homes in 2019 would have appreciated it or the residents of Boscastle in 2004.

I was wondering why there was a shortage of tin foil in the Co-op……..

The government are not "hijacking" your phone - the alert is broadcast from mobile phone towers which are picked up by your phone (as long as it is 4G/5G enabled).

It's no more hijacking your phone than your TV is being hijacked when it picks up broadcast signals.

@Ginmonkeyagain maybe everyone needs to get rid of their tv!

How are they going to “abuse” the ability to send alerts to our phones?

Give them time, it's early doors yet.

This thread, like the other million on the same topic, is hilarious.

There is no conspiracy, we just have a dopey government who have taken this long to organise it. Many other countries are way ahead. Apparently a lot more lives could have been saved in the Grenville Tower disaster, for example, if the residents had been more easily contactable. A relative of mine is alive because they got an alert in another country. Others died.

If you have a smartphone, a Facebook account, Alexa or a Tesco club card "they" already know far more about you than you would want.

Still, I might be wrong and it's either about nuclear obliteration or a zombie attack. Or both.

I mean, let's face it. If you are worried about it being introduced now because we are going to be nuked, just think about it. If Mr Putin decided to push the red button, by the time the military are aware, decided where it was going to hit, notified the government who then authorise the alert, most of us would already be toast.

I mean, let's face it. If you are worried about it being introduced now because we are going to be nuked, just think about it. If Mr Putin decided to push the red button, by the time the military are aware, decided where it was going to hit, notified the government who then authorise the alert, most of us would already be toast.

Stop living in fear it will be helpful for flood warnings. If your worried about your phone being hacked, which can be done with or without these emergency alerts I suggest you get rid of your smart phone and your Internet. Also probably worth living of grid so you can't be tracked through your bank accounts or job

It makes me laugh that all my local Facebook groups are full of posts similar to this thread ("government control/against my privacy/what a waste of our money/blah blah blah") yet Facebook groups are always full of "What's going on up Blah Street?" at the slightest sniff of an ambulance/fire engine/police car.
I mean everyone goes into total nosy/panic mode when the helicopter is up.
Come on people - do you want to know what's happening or don't you ?
🚁

This 🤣🤣

You must be a neighbour

(waves)

When I was young you’d still hear the bombing sirens being tested regularly. It wasn’t even that long a go. I just see it as a more modern version.
I don’t think we have to get some hot and bothered about everything. This is another bloody thing there seem to be side taking on and such strong opinions. For most of us it’s a non issue.