As tech companies are introducing safety features in their products, these well-intended advances are often developed without fully grasping the reality of emergency services.
Many wearables, connected devices and more, now count with special built-in features that can detect emergencies and also communicate with emergency services. But these same emergency services are often not involved in the development of these features, which can result in flawed communications. Data sometimes cannot be processed at emergency response centres, together with an increase of emergency alerts due to false alarms.
This lack of adequate communications is a consequence not anticipated by tech companies, which can hinder the work of emergency services. Without companies being aware of it, there is a possibility that users in danger can be expecting help that will not arrive because the information has not been processed by emergency services.
We believe in innovation and welcome all advances aiming at improving citizens’ safety. That is why we, together with signatories from all over the world, are now calling for tech companies to contact EENA to take part in this dialogue.
Find more in our position paper.