Civil Defences mobile alert system

Forums › ICT Policies and Regulation › Civil Defences mobile alert system

PaulBags

809 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#223702 13-Oct-2017 12:18

Is there any information around on rules/laws/etc governing this? Especially interested in requiring device manufactuers/carriers to not allow disabling, and any requirements for the formating of alerts?

1 | 2 | 3

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#1882940 13-Oct-2017 12:26

Why would anybody want to opt out?

Linux

11413 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1882941 13-Oct-2017 12:28

sbiddle:

Why would anybody want to opt out?

So they are not woken at 1:30am when they are testing the system :P

Linux

MikeB4

18435 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#1882955 13-Oct-2017 12:39

You could talk to the office of the Ombudsman http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/

PaulBags

809 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1882962 13-Oct-2017 12:52

Thanks, I think I will ask the ombudsman.

I can think of a few reasons to opt out, but staying on topic for this forum mandatory unnotified & unconsented government software installation snuck in with an update is an interesting - and disturbing - precident, whether or not it was required by law.

Linux

11413 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1882969 13-Oct-2017 12:56

Software was not installed on the phone by the government for this feature to work ' Cell Broadcast ' was enabled in NZ in about 1998, It's part of the GSM standards from 2G to 4G and soon 5G

Linux

PaulBags

809 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1882971 13-Oct-2017 12:58

Check the supported phones list, Samsung installed this with a software update.

Linux

11413 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1882974 13-Oct-2017 13:03

PaulBags: Check the supported phones list, Samsung installed this with a software update.

Link?

Linux

AliExpress

Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#1882982 13-Oct-2017 13:18

I'm not sure why your think it's "government software". It's not.

It's core phone functionality delivered using a 3GPP standard. As NZ is one of the first countries to be deploying such an advanced solution based on this some handsets require firmware updates to support it.

As already discussed in the prior thread if you don't want to be alerted during a critical emergency I suggest you buy a dumb phone.

I simply can't think of a single scenario where people wouldn't want critical alerts warning of an imminent threat to life. For this very reason it's why it can't be disabled.

PaulBags

809 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1882983 13-Oct-2017 13:18

link

Coil

6614 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1882986 13-Oct-2017 13:22

PaulBags: link

Yes that link shows you how to do a software upgrade on your device. It downloads the latest updates available from the manufacture.

PaulBags

809 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1882988 13-Oct-2017 13:24

Here's two: phone's being used for other purposes (e.g my kitchen clock), and avoiding scheduled tests.

Also, the alerts' format is terrible. It's not a reason to disable, but would like to see it addressed.

Linux

11413 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1882989 13-Oct-2017 13:24

What is your point? This is going to read as a Tin foil hat thread soon

What is wrong with the alert format? Wrong font?

Linux

kiwicam

136 posts

Master Geek

#1882990 13-Oct-2017 13:25

Amazingly, in iOS it appears they can be turned off. I'm not going to share the details here but, if you really want to make sure you can sleep through potentially deadly disasters, do a quick search.

PaulBags

809 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1882995 13-Oct-2017 13:31

My point is what are the laws and regulations? ARE there any?

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#1882996 13-Oct-2017 13:32

PaulBags: Here's two: phone's being used for other purposes (e.g my kitchen clock), and avoiding scheduled tests.

Also, the alerts' format is terrible. It's not a reason to disable, but would like to see it addressed.

I can't see why there would ever be a need for scheduled tests.

1 | 2 | 3