Latest news with #AndroidEarthquakeAlerts
Mint
7 hours ago
- 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
7 hours ago
- 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.'
Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Google admits it failed to warn 10 million people during deadly Turkey earthquake in 2023
Two years after around 55,000 people died in the devastating earthquake in Turkey, Google has admitted that its earthquake alert system failed to send warnings. Turkey earthquake: An aerial view shows collapsed and damaged buildings following an earthquake in Hatay, Turkey.(Reuters) As per a report by BBC, the tech giant admitted that its early warning system for earthquakes failed to send accurate alerts to around 10 million people during the 2023 deadly quake. Two major earthquakes - of magnitudes 7.8 and 7.7 - struck southern and central Turkey, near the border with Syria on February 6, 2023. The strong tremors resulted in the deaths of around 55,000 people in Turkey and over 5,000 in Syria. The report added that Google managed to send only 469 "Take Action" warnings for the first 7.8 magnitude earthquake. Google further told BBC that around half a million people were sent the lower level warning, which is made for "light shaking." The tech company added that ten million people within 98 miles of the epicentre could have been sent the highest level alert, which would have given them around 35 seconds to find safety before impact. Google's system—the Android Earthquake Alerts—is designed to detect shaking from a large number of Android phones. Due to the slow movement of earthquake, the Google system is often at times able to send out timely alerts. The most serious alert in this system is the "Take Action" alert which sets off a loud alarm and will override the user's Do Not Disturb setting as well to alert of a major earthquake. The 2023 earthquake in Turkey started at 4:17 AM. Hence, a Take Action alert at that time would have woken up users who could have then fled to safety. What went wrong? As per Google researchers, the system recorded a shaking between 4.5 to 4.9 magnitude, as opposed to a 7.8 on the moment magnitude scale - which is a scale used to measure the total energy released by a quake. The BBC report added that the second large earthquake to hit Turkey was also underestimated with Take Action alerts going to around 8,158 phones and Ne Aware alerts to four million people. In the aftermath of the earthquake, Google changed its algorithm and tested the alert system. As per BBC, this time, the Take Action alert went to around 10 million people at risk, and 67 million Be aware alerts to those around the epicentre.
Saudi Gazette
10 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Google failed to warn 10 million of Turkey earthquake severity
ISTANBUL — Google has admitted its earthquake early warning system failed to accurately alert people during Turkey's deadly quake of 2023. 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 Turkey. More than 55,000 people died when two major earthquakes hit south-east Turkey 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. 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 Turkey 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. 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. — BBC
Indian Express
10 hours ago
- Science
- Indian Express
Google admits lapse in earthquake alert system during Turkey's 2023 tragedy: Report
When a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southeastern Turkey in the early hours of February 6, 2023, most people were asleep. By the time buildings crumbled and the earth stopped shaking, over 55,000 lives were lost. But as the dust settled, a question lingered: Why didn't more people receive a warning? Now, more than two years later, Google has admitted that its Android Earthquake Alerts (AEA) System didn't work as intended. Designed to act as a global safety net, especially in countries lacking official warning systems, the AEA System drastically underestimated the power of the Turkey quake, according to a report by BBC Over 10 million people who had Android phones and were located within 160 kilometers of the epicentre should have received Google's highest-level warning, 'Take Action'. This warning serves as a loud alarm that overrides Do Not Disturb and fills the smartphone screen with instructions. It is meant to give individuals a critical 10 to 35-second headstart. Instead, only 469 people reportedly received this alert. About half a million users were issued a milder 'Be Aware' notification, the kind that informs of light tremors and doesn't make a sound. Google had initially claimed its system 'performed well', as per the report. Now, the tech giant's own research analysis reportedly confirms that its alert system drastically underestimated the magnitude of the quake, measuring it to be between 4.5 and 4.9 in magnitude on the Richter scale, instead of the actual 7.8. In a research paper published in Science journal, Google researchers said that the detection algorithm failed to interpret the strength of the initial tremors in Turkey. The root cause reportedly had to do with the calibration. Only after the disaster did Google researchers tweak the algorithm and simulate the quake again. As part of the simulation, the system sent 10 million 'Take Action' alerts and 67 million 'Be Aware' notifications. Google has previously emphasised that its alert system is meant to be supplementary and not a replacement for national-level networks. However, experts have raised questions about why it took so long for the tech giant to publicly acknowledge the issue. 'People died and we didn't see a performance of this warning in the way we would like,' Elizabeth Reddy, a professor at the Colorado School of Mines, was quoted as saying. '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, 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,' a Google spokesperson was quoted as saying by BBC. The AEA has reportedly pushed out earthquake alerts in over 98 countries so far. The system was introduced in India in 2023. (This article has been curated by Kaashvi Khubyani, who is an intern with The Indian Express.)
