Google to update emergency SOS feature after a spike in “silent calls”
Google says it has provided smartphone manufacturers with guidance about an emergency SOS feature after UK police forces were plagued with “silent” 999 calls.
The shortcut for the SOS emergency function was first added in Android 12 but has become more problematic since Android 13 was released in 2022.
It enables users to press the power button five times to call 999.
While the update aimed to help users in emergencies, it has resulted in a spike in 999 calls.
Police in Devon and Cornwall have revealed that they received a 25% increase in silent calls during the last month.
The National Police Chiefs Council said this trend was evident nationally with record high call volumes to 999.
Silent calls are particularly frustrating for police forces, who have to respond to them and often ring callers back to ensure they are okay.
That’s why many have advised those who accidentally made them remain on the line and confirm that it was a mistake.
Fortunately, the emergency SOS option can be turned off in smartphone settings.
While it has an obvious utility, the current functionality appears to need updating.
Google is already planning to make changes in its next Android update.
Samsung, One Plus and other popular Android manufacturers will also receive guidance and resources on how to prevent silent emergency calls from being made.
“We anticipate device manufacturers will roll out updates to their users that address this issue shortly,” a spokesperson for Google said.
They also urged the smartphone owners having an issue with Emergency SOS to turn the function off for now.