‘Emergency alert’ on your phone: Here's how netizens reacted, ‘A virus!, system malfunction?' to message from government

livemint.com:

A number of Telecom Service providers have been sending alerts to Indian citizens as per directive of Department of Telecommunications to test the effectiveness of Cell Broadcasting based Emergency Alert System. The Department of Telecommunications on July 20 made an announcement regarding its partnership with the National Disaster Management Authority. They said that together, they will carry out testing of the Cell Broadcast Alert System.

This initiative aims to improve emergency communication capabilities during disasters and prioritise the safety and welfare of the populace. The Ministry of Communications, in a statement, mentioned that comprehensive tests for the Cell Broadcast Alert System are underway and are being conducted on each Telecom Service Provider. In response to the ‘Alert’ messages received on phones of various citizens of India, a number of users on social media expressed worry over system malfunction or virus in their phone and enquired about the cause of such a message.

The Indian Department of Telecommunication said it recently tested its Cell Broadcasting System (CBS) to evaluate how effectively it can broadcast emergency warnings through mobile operators and cell broadcast systems. The government is collaborating with the National Disaster Management Authority on this project, aiming to use the system during disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, and floods. The tests will continue periodically in different regions to ensure the system's efficiency and effectiveness While some initially suspected spam or viruses, these tests are part of a government initiative to improve disaster management.