Latest news with #AndroidEarthquakeAlerts
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Google Has Quietly Been Detecting Earthquakes by Sensing Rumbling in Android Phones For Years
Google has for years been harnessing the power of its Android smartphones to detect and measure tens of thousands of earthquakes. In a new paper published in the journal Science, researchers from the search giant described how they used motion sensors from its two billion-strong network of phones running Android between the years 2021 and 2024 to detect and alert quakes to users in almost 100 countries around the world. Known as "Android Earthquake Alerts" (AEA), this early warning system has uses the smartphones' accelerometers to detect telltale vibrations as they happen and inform residents of quakes in their areas. With its two-tiered severity levels — the weaker "be aware alert" for lower-magnitude quakes that sends typical push notifications, and the more pressing "take action alert" for moderate or extreme shakes that issues a loud beeping alarm that overrides "Do Not Disturb" settings — Google boasts that it has warned of more than 11,000 quakes. While such a system has invariably saved lives, however, AEA is far from flawless. In the case of Turkey's deadly quakes in 2023 that claimed more than 55,000 lives and injured over 100,000 people, the company now admits that it erroneously sent its lower-level notifications to hundreds of thousands of people — a massive failure during one of the deadliest natural disasters in recent history. Both in the Science paper and in a statement to BBC, Google admitted that it only sent 469 "Take Action" alerts during the first of the two earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria in February 2023, and instead mass-notified half a million people with the "Be Aware" version, the less severe of the two warnings. Because the first earthquake occurred at around 4:15 in the morning, that quieter warning likely went unseen by people who were asleep and had their phones silenced. That discrepancy appears to be the result of bad seismic readings from the phones' sensors. Initially, the system's algorithms estimated that the first quake was between a 4.5 and 4.9 on the moment magnitude scale (MMS), but it was actually a far more serious 7.8. During the second quake, the AEA also underestimated the magnitude, sending only 8,158 "Take Action" alarms and almost four million "Be Aware" alerts. (That shoddy algorithm, the company says, has since been updated.) Until now, Google deflected blame for the system's failure, even after the BBC investigated the AEA in the aftermath of the quakes and found it to be severely lacking. Though this sort of admission is better late than never, it's still concerning that Google took more than two years to admit the system's failures during the Turkey earthquakes. With so many people relying on the tech monolith for life-saving alerts, taking accountability for the AEA's failures is paramount — and that accountability should have been much swifter. More on disasters: Extreme Heat Is Killing Unfathomable Numbers of People Worldwide Solve the daily Crossword
Tahawul Tech
30-07-2025
- Tahawul Tech
How did Google's earthquake warning system fail in 2023?
Google has admitted to a failure of its earthquake early warning system to accurately alert people during Türkiye's deadly 2023 quake. Ten million people within 98 miles of the epicentre could have been sent Google's highest level alert – giving up to 35 seconds of warning to find safety. Instead, only 469 'Take Action' warnings were sent out for the first 7.8 magnitude quake. Google told the BBC half a million people were sent a lower level warning, which is designed for 'light shaking', and does not alert users in the same prominent way. The tech giant previously told the BBC the system had 'performed well' after an investigation in 2023. The alerts system is available in just under 100 countries – and is described by Google as a 'global safety net' often operating in countries with no other warning system. Google's system, named Android Earthquake Alerts (AEA), is run by the Silicon Valley firm – not individual countries. The system works on Android devices, which make up more than 70% of the phones in Türkiye. More than 55,000 people died when two major earthquakes hit south-east Türkiye on 6 February 2023, more than 100,000 were injured. Many were asleep in buildings that collapsed around them when the tremors hit. Google's early warning system was in place and live on the day of the quakes – however it underestimated how strong the earthquakes were. 'We continue to improve the system based on what we learn in each earthquake', a Google spokesperson said. How it works Google's system, is able to detect shaking from a vast number of mobile phones that use the Android operating system. Because earthquakes move relatively slowly through the earth, a warning can then be sent out. Google's most serious warning is called 'Take Action', which sets off a loud alarm on a user's phone – overriding a Do Not Disturb setting – and covering their screen. This is the warning that is supposed to be sent to people when stronger shaking is detected that could threaten human life. AEA also has a less serious 'Be Aware' warning, designed to inform users of potential lighter shaking – a warning that does not override a device on Do Not Disturb. The Take Action alert was especially important in Türkiye due to the catastrophic shaking and because the first earthquake struck at 04:17, when many users would have been asleep. Only the more serious alert would have woken them. In the months after the earthquake the BBC wanted to speak to users who had been given this warning – initially with aims to showcase the effectiveness of the technology. But despite speaking to people in towns and cities across the zone impacted by the earthquake, over a period of months, we couldn't find anyone who had received a more serious Take Action notification before the quake struck. BBC published their findings later that year. Google researchers have written in the Science journal details of what went wrong, citing 'limitations to the detection algorithms'. For the first earthquake, the system estimated the shaking at between 4.5 and 4.9 on the moment magnitude scale (MMS) when it was actually a 7.8. A second large earthquake later that day was also underestimated, with the system this time sending Take Action alerts to 8,158 phones and Be Aware alerts to just under four million users. After the earthquake Google's researchers changed the algorithm, and simulated the first earthquake again. This time, the system generated 10 million Take Action alerts to those at most risk – and a further 67 million Be Aware alerts to those living further away from the epicentre 'Every earthquake early warning system grapples with the same challenge – tuning algorithms for large magnitude events,' Google told the BBC. But Elizabeth Reddy, assistant professor at Colorado School of Mines, says it is concerning it took more than two years to get this information. 'I'm really frustrated that it took so long,' she said 'We're not talking about a little event – people died – and we didn't see a performance of this warning in the way we would like.' Google says the system is supposed to be supplementary and is not a replacement for national systems. However some scientists worry countries are placing too much faith in tech that has not been fully tested. 'I think being very transparent about how well it works is absolutely critical,' Harold Tobin, director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, told the BBC. 'Would some places make the calculation that Google's doing it, so we don't have to?' Google researchers say post-event analysis has better improved the system – and AEA has pushed out alerts in 98 countries. The BBC has asked Google how AEA performed during the 2025 earthquake in Myanmar, but has yet to receive a response. Source: BBC News Image Credit: Google
Qatar Tribune
28-07-2025
- Qatar Tribune
Google admits failure to alert millions during Turkey's 2023 quakes
Agencies Google has acknowledged that its early warning system had failed to deliver critical alerts to millions of people during Türkiye's deadliest earthquakes more than two years ago, a report said on the algorithms functioned properly, around 10 million people within 157 kilometers (97.56 miles) of the epicenter could have received the highest-level warning up to 35 seconds before the shaking began. In reality, just 469 people received the alert during the first 7.8 magnitude quake that struck southeastern Türkiye in the early hours of Feb. 6, 2023, while roughly 500,000 received a lower-level notification for mild tremors, Google told the BBC. The tech giant previously said the system, named Android Earthquake Alerts (AEA), had 'performed well.' More than 55,000 people died and over 100,000 were injured in the twin tremors, many of them caught in their sleep. The AEA is run by the Silicon Valley firm, not individual countries. It works on Android devices, which are said to make up more than 70% of the phones in Türkiye. The highest-level alert in AEA is the 'Take Action' warning. It triggers a loud alarm that bypasses the Do Not Disturb mode and takes over the phone's screen. This alert is intended for situations where intense shaking is detected and poses a danger to human life. A lower-level alert, called 'Be Aware,' notifies users about possible mild tremors. Unlike the more urgent warning, it doesn't interrupt devices that are set to Do Not early warning system was in place and live on the day of the Feb. 6 quakes. However, it underestimated how strong the tremors were. It initially estimated the magnitude of the first earthquake at 4.5-4.9 rather than the actual 7.8, BBC cited researchers as explaining in the Science journal. A similar underestimation occurred during the second quake, leading to only 8,158 phones receiving the 'Take Action' alert and 4 million getting the less urgent 'Be Aware' notification. Following the disaster, Google revised its algorithms and ran simulations showing that the updated system would have delivered 'Take Action' alerts to 10 million devices and 'Be Aware' notifications to 67 million people.
Mint
28-07-2025
- Science
- Mint
Turkey Earthquake: Google's AEA miscalculated magnitude, issued only 469 major alerts
Google has acknowledged serious shortcomings in its Android Earthquake Alerts (AEA) system, which failed to provide adequate warnings ahead of the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey in February 2023, reported Euro News. Reportedly, the quake, one of the deadliest in the country's recent history, killed more than 55,000 people and injured over 100,000. Despite the system's potential to deliver high-level alerts to millions within the quake zone, the report suggests that only 469 'Take Action' notifications, designed to wake users and prompt immediate protective measures, were sent ahead of the initial 7.8-magnitude tremor. The disaster struck at 4:17 am local time, a time when most victims were asleep indoors. In contrast, around 500,000 people received the far less urgent 'Be Aware' notifications, the report added. These alerts, which do not override Do Not Disturb settings, are intended for minor tremors and do not prompt life-saving action. The failure has been attributed to the system's miscalculation of the quake's magnitude. At the time, the AEA initially estimated the shaking to be between 4.5 and 4.9 on the moment magnitude scale, vastly underestimating the actual seismic impact. The misjudgement severely limited the scope and intensity of alerts issued. Following scrutiny from the BBC and independent experts, Google reportedly admitted in a paper published inScience that there were flaws in its detection algorithms. It later ran a simulation of the event using its updated system, which it claims would have sent 10 million 'Take Action' alerts and 67 million 'Be Aware' notifications had the new version been active at the time. A second major quake later the same day saw a somewhat improved response from the system, with over 8,000 'Take Action' alerts sent and nearly four million 'Be Aware' notifications issued. However, experts argue that the damage had already been done and that the system's failure during the initial quake cost crucial seconds of warning. Elizabeth Reddy, assistant professor at the Colorado School of Mines, criticised the delayed transparency. 'I'm really frustrated that it took so long,' she said. 'This wasn't a minor incident, people died. And the warning system did not perform as needed.' The AEA operates independently of government-run warning services and functions using data from Android phones, which account for over 70 per cent of mobile devices in Turkey. Google has maintained that the system is meant to supplement national alert networks rather than replace them. Still, seismologists and emergency management experts warn that some nations may rely too heavily on Google's system, potentially neglecting the development of robust public warning infrastructure. 'Would some places make the calculation that Google's doing it, so we don't have to?' asked Harold Tobin, director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network. 'Transparency about its effectiveness is critical.'
Arab News
28-07-2025
- Arab News
Google admits failures over Turkiye earthquake phone warnings
LONDON: Google has admitted that its early-warning system for earthquakes failed to correctly report the severity of Turkiye's deadly 2023 earthquake to users, the BBC reported on Monday. Had the Android software reported the information accurately, at least 10 million people within 98 miles of the epicenter could have been sent a maximum-level alert, giving them up to 35 seconds to find safety. However, just 469 urgent 'take action' warnings were sent ahead of the first 7.8-magnitude earthquake, with at least 500,000 people receiving a lower-level warning. The lesser message only warns recipients of 'light shaking' and does not override the do-not-disturb setting on phones. The US tech giant previously told the BBC that its warning system had 'performed well' during the disaster. Until its most recent investigation, the BBC had not understood the full extent of the Google software's failings, it reported. Google's software, named Android Earthquake Alerts, is described by the tech giant as a 'global safety net.' It operates in almost 100 countries, many of which lack an official warning system for earthquakes. AEA is operated by Google, not national governments, and it works on Android devices, which make up the majority of the global phone market over Apple devices. Similar to the global split in market share, about 70 percent of phones in Turkiye are Android devices. The February 2023 disaster, which struck southeastern Turkiye, killed more than 55,000 people and injured at least 100,000. AEA detects the severity of earthquakes by compiling data received from Android mobile phones in a given area. However, during the Turkiye earthquake, the software failed to accurately detect its severity and send out the necessary number of 'take action' warnings, which set off a loud alarm on users' phones. A company spokesperson said: 'We continue to improve the system based on what we learn in each earthquake. Every earthquake early warning system grapples with the same challenge — tuning algorithms for large-magnitude events.' As many people were asleep when the first quake struck at 4:17 a.m., a 'take action' warning, which overrides silent and do-not-disturb modes, would have been necessary. Google researchers cited 'limitations to the detection algorithms' when discussing the failures in a report published by the Science journal. The AEA software estimated shaking at 4.5-4.9 on the moment magnitude scale for the first quake, when its real strength was 7.8. The second quake later in the day saw 'take action' alerts sent to 8,158 phones in the area, while the lesser 'be aware' message was dispatched to almost 4 million phones. In later simulations of the first quake, AEA sent 10 million urgent 'take action' alerts to users most at risk. A further 67 million 'be aware' alerts were sent to phones located further away from the epicenter of the simulated quake. Elizabeth Reddy, assistant professor at Colorado School of Mines, told the BBC that she is 'really frustrated' that it took so long for the software failings to be revealed. 'We're not talking about a little event — people died — and we didn't see a performance of this warning in the way we would like.'
