FEMA to test ‘Presidential Alert’ system next week
Experts expressed little concern that the wireless emergency alerts could be used for political purposes.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fema-test-presidential-alert-system-next-week-n909816
President Donald Trump may soon be communicating with you directly on your phone — even if you don’t follow him on Twitter.
Next Thursday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will do its first test of a system that allows the president to send a message to most U.S. cellphones.
More than 100 mobile carriers, including all the major wireless firms, are participating in the roll out, FEMA stated in a message on its website posted Thursday.
“The EAS [Emergency Alert System] is a national public warning system that provides the President with the communications capability to address the nation during a national emergency,” FEMA said.
The test message will have a header that reads “Presidential Alert,” according to the agency.
Users whose phones are on will twice hear a tone and vibration and then see an English-only (for now) message: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
The wireless emergency alerts (WEA) system was authorized by Congress in 2015 under a law that states the “system shall not be used to transmit a message that does not relate to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster or threat to public safety.”
Experts didn’t appear to be too concerned that Trump, known to use his smartphone to blast opponents, berate subordinates and take shots at the news media on Twitter, could abuse WEA.
The Democrats know they’d abuse the system in a heartbeat so they fear Trump will do what they would...