To think there’s something a bit sinister about the Government Emergency Alert test on 7th September?

[ThisAmberSignal]

I know it’s being pitched as just a routine safety check, “nothing to worry about” but I can’t help but feel uneasy. Why now? Why the sudden push to roll this out and get everyone’s phones buzzing at the same time?
Is it really just a public safety measure or could there be something more going on here - surveillance, control, a soft rollout of something bigger?

AIBU to feel suspicious… or do others get the same vibe?

I was caught in a test in Germany earlier this year. Problem was I had just landed about 20 mins earlier and I was in the airport station trying to work out how to buy a train ticket to the city and my phone started blaring out. Scared the bejesus out of me.

At least I know it works!

Also the French test their civil emergency alarms (loud sirens that sounds out through all cities and toews) every first Wednesday of the month. They seem to survive.

It was for a red weather warning which is the highest category in the UK and aren't issued often, I've only had one that I can remember in my area. But I agree, it has to be kept for serious only otherwise people will ignore it - I'm sure that the people involved with the system are well aware of that. Why not keep it on and only turn it off if that scenario of it becoming over-used happens?

That was my experience in the shop the night before the red alert. Different people's phones were going off at different times. Made me think it was a shop alarm.

I suppose that's why it's important the system is tested. To make sure it's working properly.

I understand that the alarm will still sound even if the phone is switched off, you actually need to disable it. I’m not sure how that works though, could be misinformation!

Do we know the exact time tomorrow?

3pm

Good point.
This is something that also needs to be well publicised. You can still get a fine and points if you use your phone during the alert.

No it wont. I am unable to disable it on my phone (option is greyed out) so I turned my phone off and it didn't go off.

Didn’t know it was happening until reading this.

Yeah- that’ll show the liberal elite

How on earth have you missed this,?
I have been notified by my service provider
so I wonder if you won't get it (like me last time).

It's just a test. We had one two years ago whilst we were abroad and I found it comforting that we still got it and would have got it if something was a real emergency. There's nothing sinister about it.

Now that really is stupid.

I've kept mine on, and quite interested in it really as our town has it's annual autumn fair tomorrow afternoon which tends to be packed so should make quite a racket 😆

I do wonder how it works in the event of a crazed gunman/terror attack though - I can obviously see the benefit in warning people to stay away from the area, but if I'm hiding I won't want it going off and alerting the attacker to my presence (but might want my phone on to call the police/ not be able to get to my pocket to turn it off).

I’ve only vaguely heard about it. I’ve not had a text to say it was happening. There had been much less publicity than large time.

We've had it for years in my country. It's good if there is a flood warning , or something similar

Yeah, dying because you didn’t know there was a serious flood will really show them what’s what.

How?

It’s not the end of the world if I don’t get the alert……

or I guess it could be and I’d not know.

As I understand it (and I may have misunderstood), it will still work if you are on 'Do not disturb' but not If phone switched off or on 'Airplane mode'.

It has been mentioned on TV and radio, newspapers and online news sources for some time.

If you haven't heard anything about it perhaps it's a good job that anything you urgently need to know about will come direct to your phone accompanied by an alarm!😄

why is it stupid exactly to not want to partake in this nonsense there to scaremonger the weak and the vulnerable

It will make a noise if your phone is on silent or inactive but if it is powered down then it won’t.