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US lawmakers want streaming services like Netflix to issue emergency alerts
A bipartisan bill reintroduced in the Senate by US Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) and John Thune (R-S.D.) could lead to emergency alerts issued through online video and audio streaming services like Netflix and Spotify. The Senators originally introduced the bill last year after that infamous false missile alert text went out across Hawai'i. Called the Reliable Emergency Alert Distribution Improvement (READI) Act, it would prevent the same thing from happening while making sure that more people receive real and relevant alerts.
In addition to exploring ways on how alerts can be issued through streaming services, READI Act would eliminate the ability to opt out of receiving certain federal alerts, including ones for incoming missiles. Alerts issued by the President or by FEMA would also have to be repeated -- at the moment, it can only be played once on TV and radio stations. It would compel FEMA to prevent false alarms and would establish a reporting system for false alerts that the FCC can track, as well.
Senator Schatz said in a statement:
"When a missile alert went out across Hawai'i last year, some people never got the message on their phones, while others missed it on their TVs and radios. Even though it was a false alarm, the missile alert exposed real flaws in the way people receive emergency alerts. Our bill fixes a number of important problems with the system responsible for delivering emergency alerts. In a real emergency, these alerts can save lives so we have to do everything we can to get it right."
(Score: 2) by sjames on Sunday October 27 2019, @08:40PM (1 child)
In the sense that people should be informed in an actual emergency I approve. Unfortunately, given the track record of "emergency" alerts, it's just a nuisance. I can think of one or two instances where an emergency alert on my phone was actually somewhat relevant and an actual emergency for at least some people in the area. There have been many more alerts that were not really relevant to anyone in the area. I can also thing of a number of cases where weather alerts probably should have gone out but didn't.
Apparently what's needed is a lot more reliability and some definition of what constitutes an emergency and what should just be a notice or advisory (no blaring klaxon for those please). Let's reserve the klaxon for situations where the life and limb OF THE RECIPIENT are likely in danger.
Amber alerts should just have a distinctive chirp. They should not go out on netflix or TV crawlers since if I'm watching TV, I am not out and about where I might see anything. There's no point in waking me up for them, if I'm asleep, I won't be seeing anything relevant.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Monday October 28 2019, @02:09PM
I wish I had mod points to give.
Emergency Alerts need to be fixed to be sent only when important to the recipient.
As someone who does not tolerate Cable TV, and only uses streaming services (Netflix, Prime, HBO, Starz, Hulu, Showtime, etc), this could be useful -- as long as the alerts are relevant.
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