Earthquake Feature Failed
Google has acknowledged that its Android Earthquake Alerts (AEA) system did not deliver timely and accurate warnings to millions during the catastrophic earthquakes that hit Turkey in February 2023, resulting in tens of thousands of fatalities.
Even though the system was operational at the time, it significantly underestimated the strength of the initial 7.8 magnitude earthquake, issuing only 469 “Take Action” alerts, which is the highest warning level, for the first tremor.
Millions Missed Life-Saving Alerts
The “Take Action” alert, intended to bypass a phone’s Do Not Disturb mode and alert users to life-threatening shaking, should have reached approximately 10 million individuals within 98 miles of the epicenter. However, most users only received “Be Aware” alerts, which are meant for lighter shaking and do not override user settings. Google later disclosed that around 500,000 users received these lower-level alerts, which likely would not have awakened many since the quake occurred at 4:17 AM.
System Flaws Acknowledged
An internal review released by Google researchers in the Science journal pointed out significant flaws in the system’s detection algorithms. The AEA had assessed the quake’s strength to be between 4.5 and 4.9 MMS, which is far below the actual 7.8 magnitude. The second major quake that occurred later that day was also underestimated, although it did trigger more alerts.
Post-event simulations indicated that if the updated algorithm had been implemented, it would have dispatched 10 million “Take Action” alerts along with an additional 67 million “Be Aware” notifications.
Delayed Transparency Raises Concern
An investigation by the BBC revealed that no users in the affected areas received the crucial “Take Action” alert. This raised alarms among experts like Elizabeth Reddy from the Colorado School of Mines, who criticized the two-year delay in recognizing the system’s shortcomings. “People died,” she remarked, describing the delay as “really frustrating.”
While Google refers to AEA as a “global safety net” that complements national systems, some scientists caution that depending too much on these systems might cause countries to neglect the establishment of their own strong infrastructure.
“Being open about its effectiveness is essential,” stated Harold Tobin, the director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network.
No Response Yet on 2025 Myanmar Quake
As the AEA operates in almost 100 countries, there are still questions regarding its effectiveness during recent seismic incidents, such as the earthquake in Myanmar in 2025. The BBC has reached out to Google for comments but has yet to receive a reply.
Google asserts that it is continually enhancing the system with every event, refining algorithms to improve the detection of significant quakes. Nevertheless, critics warn that lives could be endangered if these enhancements and shortcomings are not communicated swiftly and transparently.
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