Report Google Under Fire After 10 Million Left Unwarned in Turkey Earthquake

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File photo courtesy of Wikipedia

 

Google’s earthquake early warning system fell disastrously short during Turkey's 2023 quake, failing to alert 10 million people about the impending danger. Only 469 critical “Take Action” alerts were sent for the initial 7.8 magnitude tremor, leaving a massive gap in safety measures. The tech giant admits a mere half a million received a milder warning designed for “light shaking”.

 

The catastrophic quake claimed over 55,000 lives, injuring more than 100,000, with most victims caught unawares as buildings crumbled around them. Google's Android Earthquake Alerts (AEA), which operates on more than 70% of Turkish phones, underestimated the quake's magnitude. This revelation follows Google's previous claim that the system had “performed well”.

 

The AEA system detects tremors by analysing data from numerous Android devices. In theory, it sends a “Take Action” alert for life-threatening shakes, overriding any “Do Not Disturb” settings on phones. For lighter shakes, a “Be Aware” notification is issued, but it doesn’t sound a loud alarm. During the Turkish quake, the critical “Take Action” alert—essential for waking sleeping residents—was conspicuously absent, amplifying the tragedy.

 

Investigations by the BBC found scant evidence of anyone receiving timely “Take Action” notifications, undermining confidence in the system’s effectiveness. Google admits to “limitations to the detection algorithms”, which inaccurately measured the initial quake’s strength as 4.5 to 4.9 instead of the actual 7.8. A second quake that day was also underestimated, prompting a recalibration of their algorithms.

 

In a post-quake simulation, Google’s modified system successfully generated 10 million “Take Action” alerts, revealing potential accuracy improvements. However, experts urge transparency concerning system efficacy. While Google insists its system is supplementary rather than a replacement for national alerts, reliance on such technology remains contentious.

 

Elizabeth Reddy from Colorado School of Mines criticised the delayed disclosure of these failures, stressing the urgency given the scale of the disaster. Scientists like Harold Tobin warn against over-reliance on tech that isn’t fully tested.

 

Google reassures that post-event improvements have fortified their alert system, now active in 98 countries. The BBC awaits a response regarding the system’s performance in Myanmar’s 2025 earthquake.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-07-29

 

 

[Watawattana]

Google should be making a very large financial contribution to the rebuilding efforts.  This is a massive failure.