Google has disabled its Android earthquake detection feature in Brazil due to false alerts indicating a nonexistent earthquake. Users in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro received notifications about a 5.5 magnitude quake that did not occur. The Civil Defense confirmed that no alerts had been issued regarding seismic activity.
Google has temporarily disabled its Android earthquake detection feature in Brazil following a series of erroneous emergency alerts that were sent to numerous users in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Reports indicate that, on Friday morning around 2AM, devices received notifications about a nonexistent earthquake with a magnitude of 5.5, particularly referencing the Ubatuba and Baixada Santista regions.
The incident prompted Google to investigate the source of the false alarms. Ed Fernandez, a spokesperson for Google, highlighted that the earthquake detection network, which utilizes accelerometers in Android devices as seismometers, was initially launched in California in 2020 and has since been extended to other nations.
According to CNN Brasil, the Civil Defense of São Paulo clarified that it did not release any alerts regarding seismic activity, stating, “there is no record of any occurrence related to the possible earthquake in the state.” This statement emphasizes the disconnect between the notifications received on devices and the actual situation on the ground.
In summary, Google’s Android earthquake detection system in Brazil faced significant operational issues that led to false emergency alerts concerning a nonexistent earthquake. The disabling of this feature underscores the importance of addressing technological errors to prevent confusion and maintain system reliability during emergencies. Investigations into the cause of these alerts are currently underway.
Original Source: www.theverge.com
