Warnings of impending life-threatening emergencies will be sent to Brits’ mobile phones in a new scheme set to launch this year.
The Cabinet Office says the messages cautioning of flooding, fires, extreme weather and health issues such as Covid, will automatically be sent to smartphones via cell towers.
Around 85% of the population will receive the messages, although it will be possible to opt out should people not wish to receive them in some circumstances.
Every phone in England, Scotland and Wales will receive a welcome message in September ahead of its launch in October this year, the BBC reports.
Senior Cabinet Office Minister Kit Malthouse said: “Our job is to keep people safe. We have the information to keep them safe. We need to make sure that we broadcast it as far and wide as we can.
"We will only use it in those very dangerous situations. There's not going to be a general kind of spam system.
"You have the ability to turn it off if you really don't want to know that these things are coming to your area and are going to affect you.”
The messages are expected to be “heavily localised” and will arrive via a distinctive message tone.
The potential scenarios to trigger a warning could eventually include terror attacks although it is unknown if if imminent nuclear threats will be texted about.
Cell broadcasting technology will be used to send the messages which the Government has claimed are “secure, free to receive and one-way” only.
Trials were held in Reading and Suffolk earlier this year.
Instead of being sent to individual phone numbers, messages will go to cell towers, meaning everyone either living or passing through areas will receive them.
The Government's website says of the scheme: “Emergency alerts are broadcast from mobile phone masts.
“Every compatible mobile phone or tablet in range will receive an alert.
“The government does not need your phone number to send you an alert.
“You will get alerts based on your current location – not where you live or work.
“No one will collect or share data about you, your device or your location when you receive an alert.
“You will not get alerts if your device is turned off or in aeroplane mode.
“Emergency alerts are free. You do not need to sign up for them or download an app.
“You can opt out of some emergency alerts, but you should keep them switched on for your own safety.”
