Terrorist attack alert app launched in France prior to Euro 2016 opening

The French interior ministry launched a new app for alerting mobile users in the event of a terrorist attack or other emergency. The app is called SAIP – an acronym for Système d’alerte et d’information des populations which roughly translates to “Informational and alert system for the people”. The app is available on Android and iOS in both English and French.

Days before the Euro 2016 football tournament opens in France and amid fears fueled by last November's tragic events in Paris, the government-backed app was launched in hopes of taming the widespread anxiety by offering people a way of getting quickly notified in case of an emergency.

In the event of a terrorist attack, the app displays a white “ALERT” sign, along with a short description of what's going on, against a solid red backdrop on the smartphone's display. The user may also get further information, such as whether a police operation is underway and how to react properly to the situation. As a precaution, the app features no sound notifications or vibration in order not to draw the attention of possible attackers.

The SAIP app also includes alerts and tips on how to react to other situations, such as nuclear attacks and natural disasters. Initially, the French interior ministry considered a similar system for alerting citizens via SMS, but that was quickly ruled out, given the cost of the operation and the speed of delivery of alerts. Instead, notifications are pushed to the app as soon as the authorities get a word on what's happening, and users have the option of sharing the information on Twitter and Facebook.

You can find SAIP on the Google Play Store and the App Store.



Source: Liberation (translated) via The Guardian