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?

It’s not to scare anyone. It’s to test it. As said previously in the thread it’s like doing a fire drill or like in some towns in other countries where they test the flood alert sirens each month.

Why would the government want to put all this effort into scaring people? Remember the last test was under the Tory government, so it’s not a Labour thing.

Because when there's a real alert yours is still turned off, Einstein. That's the whole point of a drill - to test it for when it's really needed.

OP posts something utterly ridiculous and doesn't return...

ok keep taking the tablets and reading Facebook what ever did we do before mobile phones lol

think back to 2020 I will not say any more I will let you work it out

How far back do you want to go?
TV and radio news flashes, police driving around with a loudspeaker, a message being put on the screen at the cinema, air raid sirens, man on a bike with a football rattle or whistle, church bells, person running around with with a loud bell, torch beacons (aka flames), man ringing a bell and shouting "Here Ye", banging on a loud gong in the town square, waving flags.....

Yabu. They did it a few years ago...my phone didn't do it....it's just a test

Do my own research?

if you are able to

That’s what wingnuts say !

It's funny you writing that I was only thinking the other day about news flashes, back.in the days when we all watched live TV and thinking they probably couldn't do that now
I'm also old enough to remember when the old air raid sirens were tested, they always sounded the All Clear to prevent panic

Just went off…
nothing of note happened.

Mine hasn't gone off (again)!

For the extent to which the alert inconveniences you, go ahead, turn it off. Tinfoil hatters wouldn't be much use to anyone in an emergency anyway. You advising others to turn it off, and mocking the less idiotic as gullible however, really is objectionable.

Mine didn't work. The government clearly don't care about me. Bastards.

My phone was in another room when the alert went off. It made three alarms sounds and that was it,

Someone on SM said that the Netherlands and another European country (can't remember which one) do a test alert once a month. Netherlands do theirs 1st Monday of each month at 12pm.

So if you in the Netherlands during the first Monday of the month, your phone will get the alert as your phone is connected to a Dutch network.

In the opposite way, I was in North Cyprus (defacto Turkey) during the test in April 2023 and didn't get the alert as my phone was connected to Turkcell.

What network are you on? Last time it was those on 3 network that got patchy results.

Your ridiculous for not suspecting anything?? Never had them in my life and now 2 in 2 years .?? They blatantly know something is coming

2 out of 3 of ours phones went off.
I literally just had a second one though (at 3.14pm). Same message ("this is a test").
Anyone else get a second?

I'm on 3, didn't get it last time but did today.

I'm surprised it's not a yearly test.
How often do you think schools should do fire drills? Do you think 2 in 2 years is too much for those too?

Yes I did

Bizarre !

Which is why there's been another test.

So if there are networks or masts that don't send alerts that can be investigated and hopefully fixed.

Not much good sending alerts about floods in the Severn valley if a local mast or a network isn't passing them on to residents along the river banks.

Iswym. Last week's headlines were about China showing off their nuclear weapons with Russia and north Korea, so possibly a link. However, it was probably based on the least annoying month/day/time where it wouldn't massively affect people's day.

Try not to worry or over think it. Not much we can do either way.