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Many Americans are not very eager to receive text messages from the president, even in case of emergency.
And they'll have a break, if only briefly.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which oversees the Wireless Emergency Alert System (WEA), has announced that the test scheduled for Thursday would be postponed until Oct. 3, citing "response efforts." to hurricane Florence ".
The initial announcement sparked concerns among social media users who said a direct message from President Donald Trump to the nation could be used for political purposes, as he uses his official Twitter page.
An online user responded to the FEMA announcement via Twitter saying, "We do not need a presidential alert! We already have public emergency alert messages. It's not necessary!
Many also raised the issue of the mandatory nature of the alert, without being able to take advantage of it. One user even sent a message to Verizon Wireless, one of the 100 wireless companies that agreed to provide the alert to their network, asking them how to avoid receiving it.
Some users even threatened to cancel their cell phone service, while others said they would protest the test by turning off their phone, creating the # GoDark920 hashtag in response to the date. initial test.
Stephen Cobb, security researcher at ESET, a technology security company, tweeted via his audited report that the test shock indicated greater frustration with the president.
"This POTUS is so bad that people are willing to give up the potential benefits of a national alert system – which already exists on radio and television – because it's hard to believe Trump will not abuse it. "
Jeramie Scott, director of the household surveillance project at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, also said that without more information on the scope and scope of this system, there could be a risk of abuse due to its nature. intrusive ".
According to Scott, the WEA is an intrusive alert system because it stops all forms of communications to your mobile device while the alert is being processed. The emergency alert system (EAS), which he considers less intrusive, displays emergency messages on T.V. and on the radio.
"With a system that affects so many people, it is important to take a step back and discuss when such a system should be used and to ensure that safeguards are put in place. "We must discuss the limits that can be imposed to prevent the president from abusing this authority."
Scott's concerns about potential abuse of power were echoed online.
Finally, some users were generally puzzled by the sudden reasoning of such an alert system.
"What problem does that solve?" As the president wins – no matter what president – having the opportunity to put a message straight into my nightmare brick, "tweeted scientist Emily Gorcenski, from her verified account.
However, these many public concerns have been offset by the emotion of emergency management workers.
"I think it's an exceptional tool in the toolbox," said Nick Crossley, president of the International Association of Emergency Managers in the United States. "It's a great way to notify anyone with a mobile phone."
Crossley, who is also director of the Ohio County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, said that unlike local emergency alerts, mobile users do not can not disable the president's wireless alerts.
"The challenge with this type of alerts is that very rarely the federal government sends these alerts nationwide," Crossley said. "This responsibility usually falls on local emergency systems, but if your alerts are turned off, you will not be prepared."
This is an unexplored territory for most employees in emergency response and management, as it would be the first emergency alert of an American president ever since. the establishment of EAS by the Federal Communications Commission in 1997.
In its history, there have been only four cases where EAS sent an alert to a permanent president. The alert system was originally created to allow the president to speak to the nation within 10 minutes through an audio message in the event of a natural disaster or terrorist attack. The most recent national test took place almost a year ago, on September 28, 2017.
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