Emergency Alerts Real or Conspiracy?

[Kimbers]

Interested what you all think. 

I'd known about these for a while but now they are out in the open I have read so many conspiracies and theories that i can't read my FB link without spitting Coffee everywhere.

Some things that are True

You may get alerts about: Local severe flooding, fires, extreme weather
Emergency alerts will only be sent by: the emergency services, government departments, agencies and public bodies that deal with emergencies.

In an emergency, mobile phone masts in the surrounding area will broadcast an alert. Every compatible mobile phone or tablet in range of a mast will receive the alert. The Govt does not need your Phone number or know who you are. Your mobile phone or tablet does not have to be connected to mobile data or wifi to get alerts. 
Data about you, your device or location will not be collected or shared. It's a "Send only" message.

Some things that are Untrue

Among some of the myths being spread are:

That the emergency alert will access personal data. This is untrue.

That it will match personal data with information collected through venue check-ins during the Covid-19 pandemic or the Covid-19 contact tracing app. This is untrue because since the alert does not collect data it is not technically possible – note additionally that the NHS Covid-19 app did not collect or share personal information, its alerts were based on physical proximity of devices.

That it breaches GDPR. This is untrue because receiving it is based on the physical fact of a device coming within range of a mobile phone mast and not its number – your mobile phone provider has not shared your number with the government to set up the system.

That it is a signal to activate lethal pathogens in Covid-19 vaccines. This is untrue, and a particularly dangerous lie spread by irresponsible, deluded fantasists. Al Edwards, associate professor of biomedical technology at the University of Reading, commented: “There is no mechanism known to physics or biology that could connect radio signals set by mobile phone data systems, to the biological or chemical materials found in vaccines.”.

 

There is such a hubbub about this, spread by fear mongering and conspiracy theorists. But if you don't want the Warnings (which is what they are) Then turn them off, plain and simple.

So, your thoughts. Do we need them? Are they Alien signals downloaded onto our phones to take control of us?

[jerzybondov]

Thanks for flagging a bunch of the misinformation Bibs!

[Kimbers]

23 minutes ago, jerzybondov said:

Thanks for flagging a bunch of the misinformation Bibs!

Or Kimbers even!

[Rambo]

I turned off my emergency notifications weeks ago.

Personally, I think it has nothing to do with flooding, weather or fires. Fires FFS 😲 That is the usual Govt. bull$hit.

I believe it is more sinister and is being set up in case of nuclear alert or war. Putin doesn't live too far away 🤮

[jerzybondov]

28 minutes ago, Kimbers said:

Or Kimbers even!

I think I had another post from Bibs up on the other screen I’d just been reading 🤣

I didn’t mean to say you’re interchangeable 🙈🤣

[Rambo]

Conspiracy theory.... are Bibs and Kimbers actually the same person? 🤔

Maybe they're joined at the upper wishbone?

[Dave Eds]

Brothers by different mothers.........one has been adopted by the other one's father........they both share the same lightweight DNA eminating from Potash Lane......

 

Dave  (Conspiracy Theorist)

 

[Kimbers]

26 minutes ago, Rambo said:

I turned off my emergency notifications weeks ago.

I believe it is more sinister and is being set up in case of nuclear alert or war. Putin doesn't live too far away 🤮

So why would you turn it off? 

"they are about to bomb your area"

"No! No they aren't"

"Yes they are! get out now and you could survive"

"Nope I've turned off my Alerts so it's definately not happening!"

🤪

[Rambo]

17 minutes ago, Dave Eds said:

...they both share the same lightweight DNA eminating from Potash Lane......

 

That's a caustic comment 😉

[Dave Eds]

Both got Evoras.......😉

[Rambo]

Bimbers and Kimbers 😉

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

For maximum effect, Putin could launch a pre-emptive nuclear strike on the UK at 3.00pm on Sunday and everyone would just ignore the alert and die a fiery death.

[Kimbers]

3 hours ago, Rambo said:

Bimbers and Kimbers 😉

Bimbers is my sons nickname. It was Kimbers to begin with but.... just too confusing as most people call me Kimbers now in Work and out!

 

[andydclements]

Turned mine off because there were many tests by the networks, and I had one work phone plus one private with two different SIMs, so got 3x alerts. Once it's actually up and running then I may turn one of the private ones back on.

[100th_Idiot]

Ignore the conspiracies. I've received them in US for flood alerts, South Korea for missile tests and Tawian for something else. Also worked on the mobile systems about 15 years ago. It's old tech that just hasn't been used in the UK yet.

[Spinney]

We were in Boston USA a few years ago when there was a presidential test alert. We had just arrived in the US, checked into the hotel and walked to a local coffee shop when suddenly everybody’s telephone, including ours, started going off with a high pitched bleep. 
We knew nothing of this test, so were slightly alarmed, wondering what the hell was going on. Fortunately, the other customers, seeing our concerns, explained what it was all about. 😁

I don’t see any problem with receiving a warning in this way about life threatening issues to be honest. 

[Rambo]

1 hour ago, Spinney said:

I don’t see any problem with receiving a warning in this way about life threatening issues to be honest. 

But what exactly are you going to do when you get the warning?

Close the windows, go for a last thrash in the Lotus, sit in your bunker, pour yourself a glass of Chateau d'Yquem, shag the Missus, walk the dog, go down the pub with your mates, phone your Mum.....

OK, shagging the Missus is a bit far fetched but what exactly are we supposed to do?

[Spinney]

Well I guess that very clearly would depend on the exact nature of the emergency. 🤷‍♂️

I’d still rather know about any impending doom that’s about to befall me. At least then I could try making an informed decision about what to do next. I don’t think I’d panic but instead try and think of a way round the problem. My wife would definitely panic though!🤦

 

[Escape]

I fear most of the population will just panic, and possibly make things even worse...

[Spinney]

I fear you may well be right about that. 🤦 I’d still rather know about it myself though. 

[ramjet]

Or come to Oz. We don't have them here.

But once we do, you can all go back home.

[ChrisJ]

I can see that such a system is really useful in a country where there are serious things that the population need  warning about - i.e Tsunamis in Japan, Tornadoes in the USA etc. but in the UK I can see that there will be mission creep with warnings such as it might be a bit wet, or a bit sunny.

This test is timed to go off in the latter stages of the London Marathon, might be worth watching at 3pm to see if there is any reaction by anyone. I'll be on a hockey pitch umpiring the U16 London region finals.

[Rambo]

I totally agree Chris.

Let's hope there are no Paula Radcliffe moments 💩 and no one's taking a penalty stroke on the dot of 1500.

 

We have got so used to daily "be aware yellow alert" warnings for the slightest bit of wind, rain or snow (it used to be called weather) that surely we've become immune to it?

If the warning is for something more serious ie an imminent nuclear attack, an earthquake, a tidal wave etc....what do we do? You can't just have a warning without having info. on how to cope and proceed with the danger. 

And if London had an immediate terrorist alert why would anyone in say Dundee or Falkirk need to be warned?

[Spinney]

As I understand it, genuine alerts will only be transmitted within the affected areas. Obviously, tomorrow’s test is nationwide as it is just that - a test. 

I also believe the intention is to give advice related to the particular alert. 

Let’s see how it all works before condemning it as some sort of conspiracy shall we. 🤷‍♂️

[Rambo]

Genuine alerts within affected areas makes good, common sense.

Forgive my scepticism and pessimism. When I see what Governments ie Johnson and particularly Sturgeon have done over the last 3 or 4 years with ballsed up, half arsed approaches to things you'll see whete I'm coming from 🤔