You could soon be getting text messages from the president about terrible things! Regulators yesterday approved a measure to create an emergency alert system using text messages. Cellphone users would have the option to opt out of the system, but if you chose to be a part of it, and if your wireless provider does, too, you’ll be on the receiving end of three types of text messages. The messages should be free for the end-user when the program goes live by 2010.
The first kind will be directly from the president himself (will it?), warning about things like terrorist attacks and natural disasters. Or maybe something just as unlikely, like if the Knicks actually won a game.
“Imminent threats” make up the second category of scary texts. Things like hurricanes and, as the AP, says, school shootings. My school has just such a program, everyone gets a text message when something bad goes down.
Lastly, you’ll get a text message for Amber alerts.
I am shocked to see the government using technology in a useful fashion.
just what we need, hillary texting us about a shoe sale at macy’s
You win best comment ever. Well done.
-na
thnx
Uh, I think it would be Palin and her Republican paid-for wardrobe that would be sending shoe sale texts…
Message directly from the president? Imagine the opportunities for abuse…
November 2, 2008 (2 days before election day*):
“WARNING – CODE RED – TERRORISTS HAVE THREATENED TO DESTROY *insert your town name here* IF THE DEMOCRATS WIN. VOTE FOR MCCAIN OR YOU WILL ALL DIE. xoxoxoxo KR, DC”
(please note the incompetency of failing to transmit your actual town name, instead sending “insert your town name here”. also please note the “president’s” signature)
But seriously – whether we are talking about shoe sales or propaganda/hype/other BS, although the gains from proper use of this system could be tremendous in lives saved, the opportunities for abuse are equally steep. If this does get put into service, we need folks overseeing the system who have the authority and ethics to do so properly.
*Yes, I know – it won’t be put into use until 2010, not later in 2008, but you get my drift.
In 2004, Italian government sent SMS messages to ALL citizens in order to inform them for upcoming election time and day (http://www.repubblica.it/2004/f/sezioni/politica/preselezioni/sms2/sms2.html)
the knicks have won 3 in a row, and to decent teams. where is my text message?
I presume this will work with the existing EAS (Emergency Alert System), descendant of the famous EBS (if you hear the tone, kiss your heinie goodbye!)
There has never been a message originated from the President through EBS or EAS (though there were several false alerts.)
The safeguards seem to exist already.