To help Ukrainians protect themselves from aerial bombardments, Google has decided alert Android users from Google Play Services. The system leverages the alert mechanism that Google has developed for seismic alerts.
Android users are warned about air raids
At the request and with the help of the Ukrainian government, Google is trying to find solutions to limit the number of civilian casualties. Now, depending on their location, Android smartphone users will be able to receive a notification to alert them in the event of a Russian air raid. Thanks to Google Play Services, Ukrainians do not need to install any specific application. They will simply receive a notification on their smartphone to alert them to a risk of attack. This feature could save lives.
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This new alert system uses the same mechanism as the one dedicated to earthquakes. It is triggered by the Ukrainian government’s alert system to which it is linked. As the system is directly integrated with Google Play Services, it is broadcast automatically on all smartphones through an update which must logically “reach all Android phones in Ukraine in the next few days”according to Dave Burke, vice president of engineering for Android at Google.
Tragically, millions of people in Ukraine now rely on air strike alerts to try get to safety. Working with the Ukrainian government, we’re rolling out a rapid Air Raid Alerts system for all Android phones in Ukraine. https://t.co/tCzs0eI9iW 1/3
—Dave Burke (@davey_burke) March 10, 2022
Google does everything possible to help Ukrainians
On March 10, 2022, he specified that “The system is starting to roll out and will scale up to target all Android phones in Ukraine over the next few days. We are proud of our teams who struggled to find a solution as soon as possible”. To be precise, the alert system of Google Play Services uses a “approximate geolocation” of the terminal in order to target the right people. The Ukrainians concerned by the zone will receive two messages. The first will be issued just before the bombardment and the second just after.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, most companies in Silicon Valley have decided to cut ties with Russia. To help Ukrainians who are currently going through a dark period in their history, the Mountain View firm has also modified Google Maps so that hotels located in neighboring countries can be easily seen by refugees. Also, on Search, the propaganda organs RT and Sputnik are now banned from search results, in accordance with the decision of the Council of the European Union.