An Android feature designed to assist users in contacting emergency services is causing problems for first responders in the UK. Police forces across the country have reported a significant increase in false emergencies being reported to the 999 switchboard, which can be attributed to the Emergency SOS feature for Android phones. This feature allows users to quickly contact emergency services by pressing their device’s power button multiple times. However, the action is easy to perform accidentally, leading to a flood of false emergency calls.
Law enforcement agencies in Scotland, and the English counties of Wiltshire, Devon, Cornwall, and Gloucestershire have reported receiving a higher number of silent or abandoned calls since an Android update released between October 2022 and February 2023 introduced the Emergency SOS calling feature to more Android phones. Dealing with each errant call takes approximately 20 minutes, as operators need to ensure that it is not made by someone who is otherwise unable to verbally communicate an emergency situation.
The National Police Chiefs Council has raised awareness of this issue on Twitter, urging users to disable the Android feature to ease the burden on emergency responders. They emphasize that silent calls are never ignored, and call handlers will attempt to contact the caller to check if they need help. If someone accidentally dials 999, they are advised not to hang up and to stay on the line to inform the operator it was an accident and no assistance is needed.
Emergency SOS was introduced with the release of Android 12 on Google Pixel phones in 2021. It is designed to make it easier to call for help in situations where users may be unable to physically dial. The feature has been available on Pixel phones for almost two years, with similar issues reported by Pixel users shortly after its release. However, it has only recently been rolled out to other Android phone brands, bringing attention to the problem.
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Google, the developer of Android, has responded to the situation, stating that phone manufacturers are responsible for offering the Emergency SOS feature and managing how it functions on their devices. They are providing guidance and resources to manufacturers to prevent unintentional emergency calls, and anticipate that updates addressing this issue will be rolled out shortly. In the meantime, they advise users who continue to experience the problem to switch off Emergency SOS for the next few days. To disable the feature, users can go to their device settings and search for “Emergency SOS,” then toggle it off.
Accidental calls to emergency services are not limited to the UK or Android devices. Law enforcement agencies in Europe and Canada have also reported a significant increase in accidental emergency calls related to Android’s Emergency SOS feature. Apple has also faced issues with its own emergency calling, such as the activation of the Crash Detection feature on the iPhone 14 when users ride rollercoasters.
In conclusion, the Emergency SOS feature on Android phones has caused an influx of false emergency calls in the UK, burdening first responders and wasting valuable time and resources. Users are advised to disable the feature until phone manufacturers can update it to prevent accidental calls. This issue is not unique to the UK or Android, as similar problems have been reported in other countries and with other devices. Awareness and caution are essential to prevent unnecessary strain on emergency services.
