Today, FEMA & FCC decided to blast the entire nation with an emergency alert test. #EmergencyAlertSystem
The national test will consist of two portions, testing WEA and EAS capabilities. Both tests are scheduled to begin at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 4.
— FEMA and FCC Press Release Oct. 3, 2023
For some, this may be welcome tool in case of certain emergencies.
But for most people, these tests may be an intrusive nuisance; and may endanger some American citizens without their consent (opt-out will not work).
Domestic Violence Victims
Many news outlets have advised domestic violence victims who keep “safety phones” to turn them off for the duration of the test. Those who fail to turn off their phones or who are otherwise discovered may be subject to retaliatory violence. However, many of these warnings also fail to recognize that turning off the phone also removes it as a safety tool. Furthermore, I have seen none which also advised victims to leave violent relationships and seek refuge.
Trauma Victims
Those who have suffered significant trauma may be “triggered” by certain alarms, sounds, and other alerts. When trauma is triggered, the involuntary response can induce a panic attack, a flashback, or a strong impulse to flee to a safe place. However, this panic may itself subject the victims to further danger and trauma.
Parents
Any parent knows how important it can be not to wake a sleeping baby during nap time. Yet FEMA/FCC provided no option for parents trying to look out for their children’s wellbeing.
Hidden tax
Many use their cell-phones for work purposes and other important economic purposes, but are unable to do so with this disruption. The average wage for US workers is $33.82/hr as of August 2023. The US has an estimated 380M cell phones. Therefore, the cost is imposed on the public of $6.4B to perform this single half-hour test simply through lost productivity. However the cost is likely much greater, due to the significant public outreach required by journalists nationwide, complaints and confusion from the public, as well as potential emergencies caused by the unwanted alert.
Incalculable Complaints
Disruption to students’ eduction, conspiracy theories, questions why the alert system was silent during the deadly Lahaina Hawaii fires, lawsuits, and more. Nearly 1/3 of people want an opt-out of national alerts (vs fewer than 1/5 who want an opt-out of local emergency alerts).
is tantamount to hijacking private property for the purpose of planting a government-controlled loudspeaker in the home and on the person of every American
— 2018 Lawsuit in NY re: Emergency Alert
Entirely Avoidable
There should be nothing preventing the US alert systems from being optional. Users who want them can have them. Users who don’t, ought to be able to opt-out. Nevertheless, the FCC states:
Consumers cannot block National Alerts.
— FCC WEA Consumer Guide Oct 4, 2023
For most other alerts, opt-outs are available:
Also, it ought to be time to ask Google and Apple why users don’t have an option to disable ALL alerts. In particular, Android’s open-source nature ought to be unconstrained by regional jurisdictional issues like this. Consumers are free to root-their phone and/or run any software they like.
It will also be interesting to try and determine how many people disable all other alerts due to this test. Check back here for updates.
