Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

It Took Nearly Three Hours For France's Terror Alert App To Respond To Nice Attack (theverge.com)

Posted by msmash on from the app-falls-silent dept.

Amar Toor, reporting for The Verge: A terror alert app released by the French government last month has come under criticism after taking hours to notify users of Thursday night's attack in Nice. The app, called SAIP was released by the French Interior Ministry on iOS and Android in June, ahead of the Euro 2016 soccer tournament. According to the ministry, the app would provide users with alerts and information within 15 minutes of a terrorist attack being confirmed. But it apparently took much longer to send out alerts following last night's attack in Nice, where a man drove a truck into a crowded seaside promenade during Bastille Day celebrations, killing at least 84 people and leaving 18 others in critical condition. Users who had downloaded the app posted phone screenshots to Twitter last night showing that SAIP sent out its first alert just after 1:30AM local time -- nearly three hours after the attack began. Facebook, by contrast, activated its Safety Check feature shortly after the attack was carried out, and French politicians urged those in the area to check in using that feature, as SAIP remained silent.

4 of 278 comments (clear)

  1. I'm just waiting for.... by cayenne8 · · Score: 5, Funny
    ...the democrats to get on the air quickly and start advocating for Banning ALL Assault Trucks immediately!!

    ;)

    --
    Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    1. Re:I'm just waiting for.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      I rented a large "moving truck" last year. I didn't even need a background check. They didn't even ask why I needed such a big truck

      It is scary how easy it is to get a large truck like that.

    2. Re:I'm just waiting for.... by Fire_Wraith · · Score: 4, Funny

      Banning trucks would only put us at more risk, because the only effective defense against a bad guy with a truck, is a good guy with a truck.

  2. Re:I'm just waiting for....ban on assault trucks!! by cayenne8 · · Score: 5, Funny

    And if they can't they will limit gas tank capacity, axle width, and armor piercing bumpers as then require that you pass a background check every time you refill at a gas station.

    Well, come on..lets be *reasonable*..I mean, who needs 30 gallons of gas JUST to go hunting, you know?

    What we need are Common Sense Truck Laws...at this point, even 80% of truck owning Americans agree with this.

    Next week, we also need to take up knife and folding chair safety legislation, you just never know what one of these terrorist bastards will pick up next to kill with....

    --
    Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........