Google suspends Android's earthquake alerts after false alarm
What's the story
Google has temporarily deactivated its earthquake alert feature for Android users in Brazil after a system glitch triggered false alarms. The malfunction, which took place early this morning, had residents of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro receiving inaccurate notifications about seismic activity in Ubatuba and Baixada Santista regions. The Civil Defense of Sao Paulo confirmed it hadn't issued any such alerts nor was aware of any earthquakes at that time.
Apology issued
Google apologizes for false alerts
Google has apologized for the false earthquake warnings, noting that the system had incorrectly detected signs of activity off Sao Paulo's coast. The tech giant did not go into specifics on how this happened but has suspended the alert system across Brazil while an investigation is underway. Even though no actual earthquakes took place, these false alerts triggered a widespread discussion on social media.
Feature status
Earthquake alert feature remains active in US
Google had introduced the earthquake alert feature in the US last year following successful trials in California, Oregon, and Washington. Till now, there's no indication of the system being affected outside Brazil. Google's statement to CNN only noted suspending this service within Brazilian borders. The company is now working to identify and rectify what went wrong with this potentially life-saving tool that unfortunately disseminated false information.