Google’s Earthquake Alert Failed to Reach Residents in Turkey

An investigation by BBC Newsnight revealed that Google's earthquake warning system failed to reach many Turkish residents before a deadly earthquake in February, which resulted in over 50,000 fatalities. The Android Earthquake Alert System uses phone accelerometers to detect shaking and can send warnings for earthquakes of magnitude 4.5 or greater. Google claims it sent alerts to millions before the first major quake, but the BBC found no one in three cities in the earthquake zone had received a warning. Critics question the system's reliability. Google's product lead Micah Berman asserted the system worked, but the company did not provide evidence of widespread receipt.

An investigation by BBC Newsnight revealed that Google's earthquake warning system failed to reach many Turkish residents before a deadly earthquake in February, which resulted in over 50,000 fatalities. The Android Earthquake Alert System uses phone accelerometers to detect shaking and can send warnings for earthquakes of magnitude 4.5 or greater. Google claims it sent alerts to millions before the first major quake, but the BBC found no one in three cities in the earthquake zone had received a warning. Critics question the system's reliability. Google's product lead Micah Berman asserted the system worked, but the company did not provide evidence of widespread receipt.

An investigation by BBC Newsnight revealed that Google's earthquake warning system failed to reach many Turkish residents before a deadly earthquake in February, which resulted in over 50,000 fatalities. The Android Earthquake Alert System uses phone accelerometers to detect shaking and can send warnings for earthquakes of magnitude 4.5 or greater. Google claims it sent alerts to millions before the first major quake, but the BBC found no one in three cities in the earthquake zone had received a warning. Critics question the system's reliability. Google's product lead Micah Berman asserted the system worked, but the company did not provide evidence of widespread receipt.

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