DHS to Send Widespread Alerts

MarsGov writes "The Department of Homeland Security is gearing up to be able to periodic test 'alerts' to cable television stations, satellite radio, as well as any text-capable device — PDAs, cell phones, and web sites." From the article: Some glitches remain as telephone companies and other networks grapple with potentially trying to alert all of their customers at the same time without jamming their systems, Lawson said. But the alerts could be transmitted by text messages, audio recordings, video or graphics, he said, opening the possibility of sending out additional detailed information to specific sectors, like hospitals or emergency responders."

Comments

Invasion?

[cb8100]

So, if the U.S. gets invaded I'll get an SMS saying "All our base are belong to them?"

kind of scary

[Twillerror]

As much as I think this could help in the event of disaster, I hope that some legislation is passed to limit it's use. It would be very easy to abuse it for propogand purposes.

Re:kind of scary

[Mysticalfruit]

Not to mention possibly clogging up vital pieces of infrastructure that would be most needed in an emergency...

"We're sorry, your call cannot be completed as dialed, this cell node is currently attempting to send 104,000 SMS messages..."

Re:kind of scary

[mrxak]

I can only seeing something like this causing panic. "UR IN DANGER RUN 4 LIFE" getting sent to thousands of people all at once can't possibly be a great way of alerting people to an emergency. At least with television alerts they give you a decent amount of information, but text messenging, especially at this large a scale, any message sent would probably not be able to include a lot of information.

Re:kind of scary

[pixelpusher220]

and 5 minutes later a 2nd SMS saying:

No, the OTHER way!

Re:kind of scary

[dougman]

Clearly you did not RTFA. It states, "Only the president can order a national emergency alert" and "The new digital system will update the emergency alerts planned -- but never used -- during the Cold War in the event of a nuclear strike". More legislation...uggh.

While you can pretend to predict what will happen, over 55 years of history (this program started in 1951) shows that it is unlikely to be used. Only the President can issue the alert and the current President didn't on 9/11 or any other time since. Other than your own FUD, what reason do you have to believe that it will suddenly be used for evil?

Again, DHS is updating the technology to deliver the same old message (which they apparently have yet to send).

Re:kind of scary

[geobeck]

It would be very easy to abuse it for propogand[a] purposes.

Unlike the regular news media, which has never been used for propaganda purposes, of course.

Re:kind of scary

[dougman]

AFAIK, it hasn't been used on a national scale, but the EBS has been activated over 20,000 times at the local level since 1975 (http://www.fcc.gov/eb/eas/FCC-94-288.pdf). I've heard tornado alerts over the system several times in my life, and frankly getting it via cell phone text message would be an asset.

Here's a couple articles on the subject in the event you were honestly wondering.

The Emergency Alert System (EAS) page
National Alert System In Disarray
The Partnership for Public Warning

Facts that can be found in the above links:

President Truman established CONELRAD in 1951.
President Kennedy established the EBS in 1963.
President Clinton established the EAS in 1995.
Clinton Administration updated the EAS to all digital in 1996.
President Bush began procedures to amend the EAS rules to include Digital Media Technologies on November 3, 2005.

With all due respect, you're spreading FUD, not FACTS.

Just in time for the fall election season

[BroncoInCalifornia]

They have to push the fear buttons before the fall election. It will make the difference between winning and losing.

Re:Just in time for the fall election season

[lawpoop]

"What I find unfortunate is that DHS can't win. "

I think it's a little early for you to come to this conclusion.

"If they send out any kind of alert and nothing happens, they overreacted (even if there was a real threat and the perps simply scratched their mission once they were exposed.). "

If you look at a timeline of terror alerts, they all seem to coincide with the release of news that was damaging to the Bush administration.

"If they don't send an alert and something happens, they take the blame for that. "

Has that actually happened (yet)? That's why I say it is perhaps too early for you to say that they can't win.

"If they use it to send out emergency information on a hurricane bearing down on New Orleans... well, they won't do that right, because you believe this tech will only be used for political gain (though TFA says it may be used for natural disasters)."

Did they issue such a warning for hurricane Katrina? I honestly don't recall if they did. If they did, kudos to them.

If this is a tech that can be used for good or evil, based on historical evidence, I think the Bush administration will use it for evil.

Good for Disaster Preparedness.

[couchslug]

A standard message format for disaster warning would be useful when prompt response could save lives. Tornado warnings come to mind as an ideal use for this. Not everyone is watching the boob tube or listening to conventional radio these days.

"Test Alerts" My Ass

[Chagatai]

The real reason for these alerts is to keep people as scared as possible. A building blew up in New York two days ago? Must be scary terrorists. Your flight was delayed? Be scared--it may be terrorists. Flat Coca-Cola, small puppies getting kicked, and cable rates being raised? Be terrified, because these were likely caused by terrorists.

The truth is that these events will continue during the 2006 elections and we should start seeing a few Orange Alerts or even a planned attack here in the next several months. No, wait, I got it. There will be an attack immediately followed by news of Osama bin Laden's death. Yeah, that will do it.

Re:"Test Alerts" My Ass

[geobeck]

There will be an attack immediately followed by news of Osama bin Laden's death.

They can't kill off Osama! He's the goose that lays the exploding eggs! After all, 'terror' is just an abstract concept. But when you have such a charismatic poster child, it becomes a war on "that guy with the turban".

And that creates even more terror, as the resulting xenophobia makes people see 'terrorists' around every corner. Your cab driver? He wears a turban just like Osama! He must be a terrorist! (Actually, the stereotypical Sikh cab driver's turban looks nothing like Osama's, but who pays attention when they're whipped into a xenophobic frenzy?) That engineer at X-TechCo looks kind of like Osama--he must be stealing technical secrets for terrorists! And that airline pilot doesn't look 'American'--ohnoes, we're all going to die!

Without Osama's pretty face in the news every day, the war on terror would fizzle into a war on apathy.

Can't wait...

[ph43thon]

...until some guy hacks that system to send out "Test Alerts" about his large penis.

*text msg chime*

[Rob T Firefly]

FROM: DHS
SUBJECT: omgwtfbbq
BODY: big missls cmg oshit run awy now pls kthx

Re:Who are the terrorists?

[geobeck]

The terrorists' goal is to spread fear to help them get to their political goals. They are going to be very happy everytime this alert system is used...

And that's exactly why they are going to use it.