The message went out after law enforcement officials became convinced a San Diego man had kidnapped a neighbor’s daughter. The man is also wanted in connection with the death of the neighbor. The message detailed the make, model and license plate number of the car the man was believed to be driving.
Officials sent out the message under the Wireless Emergency Alert system. Since January 1 this year, the system has been opt-out rather than opt-in for newer cellphone models, something that’s planned to be the case with all future handsets.
The alerts come as text messages, preceded by an audible or vibration alert if the handset supports it. Rather than going to specific numbers, it goes to all compatible handsets within range of designated cellphone towers at the time of broadcast. It uses a slightly different broadcast technique to ordinary texts between individual users, meaning it can get through even at times of high traffic on cellphone networks.
Not everyone who received the alert was happy, with some complaints that the message disturbed them or caused confusion. It’s a particularly controversial event as previous such broadcasts in other states have mainly been warning the recipients that they are in imminent danger, for example from a natural disaster or possible terrorist activity.
This particular broadcast caused added confusion as the alert didn’t make clear exactly what recipients should do with the information. Officials have clarified they want anyone seeing the vehicle to contact the police.
The SFGate website quotes the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as saying that previous alerts (many on a smaller geographic scale) have so far led to 656 abducted children being found and rescued.
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