Charities have criticised the Government that the alert expected to blare out this weekend will be an invasion of privacy and put victims of abuse at risk.
At around 3pm on Sunday, 7 September, all 4G and 5G mobile phones in the UK will blare a 10-second siren blast and display a test alert from the Government — part of a system designed to warn the public in the event of life-threatening emergencies.
But campaigners fear the so called ‘Armageddon alarm’ may expose hidden phones used to seek help by abuse victims and could have terrifying consequences for those hiding devices from controlling or violent partners.
Emma Pickering, of domestic abuse charity Refuge, warned that the alert could expose lifeline phones hidden by survivors.
‘During the initial roll-out of the Government’s emergency alert system, Refuge expressed concerns about how the alerts could indirectly impact survivors who have hidden devices by making their abuser aware of the device,’ she said.
‘We must be clear – abuse is always a choice a perpetrator makes, and technology itself is not responsible.
‘When used correctly and as intended, technology can make vast improvements to our lives, and we know that having a hidden device that can be used to access support without fear of being tracked can offer a lifeline for many survivors.
This will be the first time that the Emergency Alert System has been tested in two years, following the system’s launch in April 2023
The emergency alert is used to warn if there is a danger to life nearby, in instances like extreme weather – although Sunday will only be a test
‘However, in the hands of a perpetrator of abuse, technology becomes another tool to misuse and weaponise, often with devastating effects.’
Another charity, Solace, echoed the warning, stressing that many victims rely on secret phones to find help or rebuild their lives.
‘These alerts may put domestic abuse survivors at risk, if they are concealing devices from perpetrators,’ a spokesperson said.
‘Survivors may hide devices because they use them to seek and receive support, or to seek employment to increase their financial independence.’
Charities are urging anyone with a hidden device to disable emergency alerts ahead of Sunday’s drill.
During the previous sounding of the alarm in March, Know Your Human Rights claimed this was a ‘privacy violation’.
It said: ‘You have no right to access citizen’s private mobile devices. Once again you’ve over stepped the mark bringing us ever closer to a dystopian surveillance society.’
The Government insists the alert — which is also used in countries like the US and Japan — is a life-saving measure, and says it will only be deployed in extreme circumstances.
The system, the Government says, will only be used in rare but life-threatening emergencies, such as severe flooding, fires, or terror attacks. Similar alerts have already been used during major storms.
The alert system was used in Plymouth after an unexploded World War II bomb was uncovered and had to be removed
Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, defended the alert: ‘On Sunday September 7 we will hold a UK-wide test of the emergency alerts system to ensure it works when we need it most,’ he said.
‘It is a vital tool for keeping the nation safe when lives are on the line – and every minute matters.’
‘During Storm Darragh and Storm Eowyn, as millions faced dangerous extreme weather, I saw first-hand how effective it was at getting life-saving advice to at-risk communities in an instant.’
‘We do not use the system often, but like the fire alarm in your home, it is always on standby should we need to act.’
