General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDoes anyone know if there is a way to BLOCK Trump's FEMA "emergency test" phone
call this coming Thursday?
I don't want to participate in any call unless I can talk back to Tangerine Amin.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,836 posts)You can expect to see the alert pop up on your phone at 2:18 p.m. ET so long as you have your phone turned on, are within range of a cell tower, and if your wireless provider is part of the WEA system.
The WEA test will be broadcast over the course of about 30 minutes and sound the same as an AMBER Alert. Users can't opt out of the presidential alert test, according to FEMA.
If you turn off your phone the message will probably pop up when you turn it back on again. We can't escape. I'll switch mine off just to see if the phone stores the message.
Siwsan
(26,289 posts)I'm concerned this is just the start of what he's going to do, when it comes to sending texts to our phones.
sheshe2
(83,898 posts)Propaganda tweets.
Siwsan
(26,289 posts)I don't put anything past him.
Also a way of tracking us?
nolabear
(41,991 posts)Police and jealous lovers and all kinds of people can infer quite a few things from text records. Can they be manipulated someday?
sheshe2
(83,898 posts)smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)I do not want to hear from him EVER. I feel like this is a violation of our privacy. Where will the line be drawn?
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,431 posts)The Communications Act of 1934 established the authority for the President to use certain private sector communications systems for priority communications, such as sending alert and warning messages to the public, during national emergencies. The implementation of this legislation is what enables the Emergency Alert System to be used by government authorities at all levels of government to send alert and warnings via private sector radio, television and cable stations in coordination with the private sector station owners. In 2006, The Warning, Alert, and Response Network (WARN) Act of 2006 prompted the Federal Communications Commission to adopt regulations enabling the wireless industry to participate in the distribution of public alerts and warnings also. The WARN Act further established that the wireless alerting service should allow wireless subscribers the capability of opting out of receiving alerts, other than an alert issued by the President.
On the other hand, depending on your phone/carrier/location, you may not receive an alert at all:
Only WEA compatible cell phones that are switched on and within range of an active cell tower, and whose wireless provider participates in WEA will be capable of receiving the test message.
C_U_L8R
(45,020 posts)at 2:15 and leave them off for, say, 40 or 60 minutes?
Could be quite an ad hoc protest.
Atticus
(15,124 posts)C_U_L8R
(45,020 posts)That less phones are online. And that less messages were received.
PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,895 posts)How can I figure out if that's the kind of phone I have?
I suspect that only "smart" phones are in that category. Lucky me, no smart phone here. I have a fairly dumb one (other phones make fun of it and won't play with it at recess) although it can make and receive texts. I think I continue to be glad I have a dumb phone. (I give it pep talks daily, tell it those other phones are just meanies and to ignore them.)
llmart
(15,552 posts)underthematrix
(5,811 posts)until 11:30 (2:30pm)
I've a;ready turned off my notifications.
Claritie Pixie
(2,199 posts)I will turn that setting to OFF on Thursday.
Response to Atticus (Original post)
Name removed Message auto-removed
GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)This is not a Trump program. It was passed with bi-partisan support and signed into law by President Obama.
Certainly not saying Trump will not try to abuse it, but this was not created as a nefarious plot.
In my opinion if he did try to use it for nefarious means, it would be the most personally damaging thing he would have done yet. No one, conservative or liberal likes the idea of government controlling their phones. Or even knowing where they are.
Girard442
(6,084 posts)There was no reason for this to be about him, but it is. He's already abusing it.
GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)Most people excepting his wingnut supporters will be repulsed at the idea of the president sending them politicized texts on a pushed text.
Lets wait and see what really happens before getting worked up about it.
Might be more mojo for the blue wave. More likely a non event. Americans do not do traditional media anymore. The Emergency Alerts we all grew up with are reaching less and less of our fellow Americans.
President Obama and 100% of congress realized we needed to update the system.
Hekate
(90,793 posts)TygrBright
(20,763 posts)We actually pay to block texts on our cell phone service and my Nokia phone doesn't have a text function, so I don't expect to get any howdies from Weehands McNodick.
::hat tip to the Ferret::
serenely,
Bright
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,699 posts)I am laughing out loud!
Doreen
(11,686 posts)Please tell me what time it will happen in PT. I can turn my phone off for the time being and can delete the text without having to look at it when I turn it back on.
unblock
(52,317 posts)Doreen
(11,686 posts)I will have it off for about an hour. I think I can survive without my cell for that long.
unblock
(52,317 posts)Doreen
(11,686 posts)If my phone was on I would have to see it first but when my phone goes on from off I do not have to look.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)and hope the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system works well when you need it. I'm sure we've paid a lot of money for it.
I don't like that ass playing with it for self aggrandizement, either, but then I also don't like having to live with all those people who voted like asses or refused to vote like asses. Trump is the reflection in a mirror too many Americans don't dare look into.
Gidney N Cloyd
(19,847 posts)erronis
(15,328 posts)Faraday shield (really just wrap it in 2-3 layers of tinfoil.)
With my new android phone that says it's water-proof, I may wait until his text comes in to drop it in the toilet before my AM dump.
dameatball
(7,399 posts)Blue_true
(31,261 posts)You can read incoming texts later, or just delete them without reading.
I considered turning my phone off, but will leave it on. I want to see what the idiot texts.
Hekate
(90,793 posts)Last edited Mon Sep 17, 2018, 03:21 AM - Edit history (1)
But we have all paid handsomely for the privilege of losing our privacy, not to the government per se, but to corporate entities who collect every scrap of information and who follow you around electronically via your cell phones and iPads.
People, you give it all away for the privilege of posting on Face Book and using a smart phone. What did you think was going to happen?
GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)President Obama signed this into law because our old emergency response system relied on network TV and over the airwaves Radio, which fewer and fewer people use.
Dont fall for the hyperbole
If it gets abused, then take action.
But like President Obama felt, it seems like a good idea.
Hekate
(90,793 posts)maxrandb
(15,351 posts)But since both parties are the same...