US mobile phone users get ‘Trump alert’

US phone users check their phones for the Trump Alert

US mobile phone users get ‘Trump alert’

The United States government, Wednesday tested a wireless Emergency Alert System which sent alert SMS to millions of US phone users.

Reason for the security alert system is to keep a system in place through which the government could communicate instantly to citizens and residents in times of security threats and natural disasters. The alert produced a tone and showed a notification saying: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”

It was being broadcast from mobile phone masts for about 30 minutes from 14:18 ET (19:18 BST) – with devices displaying only a single message.

The test was mandated under a 2015 law that said one must be run at least once every three years.

It was originally scheduled for September but was delayed in order to avoid any confusion while Hurricane Florence response efforts were continuing in North and South Carolina.

After the alert, Twitter and Facebook immediately lit up with people discussing the merits of the system, or complaining that they had not received the notification.

A journalist, a breastfeeding advocate and a fitness instructor teamed up to sue Fema, claiming the technology was a violation of their rights to be free from “government-compelled listening”.

The legal action alleged that the test could be “traumatic” to children and that the system was open to abuse.

“Officials – including [President] Trump – are free to define ‘act of terrorism’ and ‘threat to public safety’ as they see fit, potentially broadcasting arbitrary, biased, irrational and/or content-based messages to hundreds of millions of people,” the legal action claimed.

However, a New York judge refused the request at a hearing on Wednesday morning.

Others have used social media to complain about and mock the trial. Several have noted that anyone wanting to know the president’s thoughts can turn to Twitter.

The first “Presidential Alert” will be sent to every American’s phone today. Minutes later you will also get 250 million texts saying ‘Sounds great!” from people who pressed reply all. (DAN with BBC report)