topic Re: Amber Alert opt-out in Get Support

Amber Alert opt-out

DragonRU — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 13:17:41 GMT

Today at 3am we got an AMBER alert about abduction that happened around 3pm, what is even worse - that alert was repeated at 4am. Only thing it proves - that persons that developed that system, and person who make a decision about issuing alert are both terrible incompetent - because this alert won't help to find that child, but seriously damages public health instead.

Unfortuantely, it is not possible to opt-out on personal level, because those alerts are sent as presidentional level alerts, which is a terrible misuse of system. But it would be possible to do it on the provider level, or even completely skip those alerts, like Koodo is doing. So my question and suggestion is - can Public Mobile do something about this issue?

Re: Amber Alert opt-out

Triguy — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 16:57:01 GMT

Beginning in April 2018, TELUS and all Canadian wireless service providers will be required to broadcast emergency alerts received from alerting authorities directly to consumers’ WPA compatible wireless devices using Cell Broadcast distribution. Wireless service providers will only receive and broadcast alerts that are issued for threat-to-life situations.

You cannot opt out of receiving threat-to-life emergency alerts.

https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/bc/alertready

Re: Amber Alert opt-out

GinYVR — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 16:52:02 GMT

@DragonRUNothing Public Mobile can do.. However you can make it known to CRTC which regulates these things.

Re: Amber Alert opt-out

LovesToPM — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 16:47:45 GMT

I feel your fustration. One option is to turn off LTE. You need to be on LTE to receive Amber Alerts in Canada.

You can find more info here: https://www.alertready.ca/wireless/

Re: Amber Alert opt-out

JackQuint — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 16:49:28 GMT

Pretty much only the police can issue an amber alert. They have criteria that need to be met before they issue one. Presumably those criteria weren't met until the early hours of the morning.

Re: Amber Alert opt-out

geopublic — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 16:50:29 GMT

@DragonRU Nobody is stopping you from turning your phone off are they?

Re: Amber Alert opt-out

DragonRU — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 16:53:42 GMT

As i mentioned in intial post, I cannot to do it as client, but provider can either add this option, or just completely ignote those alert and not broadcast them. Those alerts are so heavily misused, that currently it would be a best option.

Re: Amber Alert opt-out

Melissa-H77 — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 16:54:37 GMT

I can understand the frustration of being woken up and there are ways to prevent your phone from going off in the middle of the night. But as a parent, if there is a slightest chance that these alerts could help find these missing children, do you not feel that is it worth the interrupted sleep? Think about what these parents are going through and have a little compassion.

Re: Amber Alert opt-out

duffer900 — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 16:54:58 GMT

@DragonRU wrote:
because this alert won't help to find that child, but seriously damages public health instead.

The Children were found as a direct result of the Amber Alert....

Re: Amber Alert opt-out

mimmo — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 16:56:29 GMT

I can understand the fustration, these amber alerts probably work best when people are awake not in the middle of the night. so maybe some better guidelines need to be created for when they are sent. on the flip side what if it was a family member of yours.

nothing that PM can do crtc as mentioned is best option o have your voice heard

Re: Amber Alert opt-out

DragonRU — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 17:07:14 GMT

@geopublic I have an alarm clock on my phone, and I do not want to turn off phone eveny night only because an idiot does not know how to propertly use this system

Re: Amber Alert opt-out

DragonRU — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 17:10:41 GMT

@Melissa-H77 There is way higher chances that this alert causes someone to die because of heart attack, or in car accident caused by sleep deprivation. Think about those possible deaths. Also, it is extremely unlikely that person who sleeping at 3AM can somehow help to resolve this issue, and if person is awake, text message would be enough. Presidential level alerts are not designed for this type of situations.

Re: Amber Alert opt-out

DragonRU — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 17:15:37 GMT

@duffer900 wrote:
@DragonRU wrote:
because this alert won't help to find that child, but seriously damages public health instead.
The Children were found as a direct result of the Amber Alert....

Completely false. Childern were with his grandfather

Re: Amber Alert opt-out

JackQuint — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 17:18:45 GMT

@DragonRU wrote:
@Melissa-H77 There is way higher chances that this alert causes someone to die because of heart attack, or in car accident caused by sleep deprivation. Think about those possible deaths. Also, it is extremely unlikely that person who sleeping at 3AM can somehow help to resolve this issue, and if person is awake, text message would be enough. Presidential level alerts are not designed for this type of situations.

What an assinine post.

Re: Amber Alert opt-out

duffer900 — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 17:23:03 GMT

@DragonRU wrote:
@duffer900 wrote:
@DragonRU wrote:
because this alert won't help to find that child, but seriously damages public health instead.
The Children were found as a direct result of the Amber Alert....
Completely false. Childern were with his grandfather

I'll say it one more time... slower... the grandfather, and kids, were found, as a direct result of a call from a citizen that got the amber alert.... Not sure what your statement has to do with this fact... That is all I am going to say about this, you can go back under your rock now.

Re: Amber Alert opt-out

DragonRU — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 17:24:08 GMT

@JackQuint wrote:
What an assinine post.

For people who cannot calculate risks and prefer to kill hundred people rather than one - yes, it looks asinine

Re: Amber Alert opt-out

shskr — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 17:27:45 GMT

I can see the frustration on the parents that their children are missing. But issuing and alert at 3am is pointless.

Senerio: I get an alert at 3am wake up read alert. Best I can do look outside my window to see if anyone is outside that looks like missing children. I highly doubt im getting dressed and going to look for them.

That's why my phone is off at night. Oh and I don't use my phone as an alarm clock, I bought a $10 cheap alarm clock for that.

Pleasant day, hope the kids are found.

Re: Amber Alert opt-out

DragonRU — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 17:27:45 GMT

@duffer900 wrote:
'll say it one more time... slower... the grandfather, and kids, were found, as a direct result of a call from a citizen that got the amber alert....

Any proofs of this claim? Especially because it was possible to tag granfather location by his phone, and because he definitely was one of top versions to check. Pretty obvious that both those steps are not related to amber alert at all.

Re: Amber Alert opt-out

stonechucker — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 17:41:13 GMT

@DragonRU wrote:
@duffer900 wrote:
'll say it one more time... slower... the grandfather, and kids, were found, as a direct result of a call from a citizen that got the amber alert....
Any proofs of this claim? Especially because it was possible to tag granfather location by his phone, and because he definitely was one of top versions to check. Pretty obvious that both those steps are not related to amber alert at all.

@DragonRU, firstly, if you wish to stop getting these alerts TURN OFF your LTE services, and FORCE 3G only connection on your device. This is the only option to OPT-OUT.

Carriers are mandated to issues these alerts. Meaning no ability to STOP THEM.

Another way is to get an old fashioned radio alarm clock and turn off your phone at night.

As of 6 am when I was watching the news, the police confirmed the Grandfather became confused, and lost, and did not know where to go. The alerts allow someone in the Toronto area to see the car and notify the police.

This essentially was 3 missing people from 3 pm YESTERDAY without contact. Did grandfather have a phone? Maybe, or did the battery die? possible.

Re: Amber Alert opt-out

LovesToPM — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 17:41:28 GMT

@DragonRU, Public Mobile cannot do anything about this.

A short term solution >> Turn off LTE.

Depending on which phone you have

Android settings > Network mode > select GSM/WCDMA auto

iPhone settings > Cellular Data Options > Enable LTE > disable

Your phone will still function for calls, texts and data.