[ NNSquad ] Cell-phone based amber alert turns into a predictable mess in California

[Lauren Weinstein <lauren@vortex.com>]

Cell-phone based amber alert turns into a predictable mess in California

http://j.mp/1bcavoH  (L.A. Times)

   "Residents across California were startled overnight by cellphones that
    came to life in screeches and buzzes, awaking some and unsettling
    others with the state's first Amber Alert via text message.
    Californians are no strangers to Amber Alerts, which are issued for
    critical child abductions. But for the first time Monday night,
    residents across the Southland experienced an Amber Alert issued via
    text message to their cellphones -- and got the full complement of a
    10-second spurt of high-pitched noise and buzzing.  The message --
    which included only basic details about a blue Nissan -- sent many
    customers into a tizzy of confusion, even anger. The text did not
    explain the circumstances."

 - - -

The whole cell phone amber alert system was a predictable mess from
the word go.

--Lauren--
Lauren Weinstein (lauren@vortex.com): http://www.vortex.com/lauren 
Co-Founder: People For Internet Responsibility: http://www.pfir.org/pfir-info
Founder:
 - Network Neutrality Squad: http://www.nnsquad.org 
 - PRIVACY Forum: http://www.vortex.com/privacy-info
Member: ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com
Google+: http://google.com/+LaurenWeinstein 
Twitter: http://twitter.com/laurenweinstein
Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 / Skype: vortex.com
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