Your Android Can Now Share Live Video to 911
If you find yourself in an emergency or crisis situation, the more information you can give to first responders, the better. Android users can now share a live feed of their surroundings with 911, allowing emergency services to assess and provide advice in real time while you wait for help to arrive on scene.
Emergency Services on Android
Your Android already shares some information with first responders through emergency location services (unless you turn this feature off). This built-in tool sends precise location and contextual information, such as language settings, when you call or text an emergency number. Now this includes live video from your device’s camera.
You don’t need to do anything to set up live emergency video. Once available in your area, responders can send a request during an emergency call or send a text message to securely share live video from your camera. You will see a prompt on your screen to start sharing with just one click.
According to Google, Emergency Live Video is encrypted by default. Users can choose to share their video from the prompt and stop sharing at any time by clicking the on-screen icon. Stop sharing button.
What do you think of it so far?
Live video sharing is now available for users in the United States, as well as parts of Germany and Mexico, on Android phones running Android 8 and later. Google says it is partnering with public safety agencies to expand the feature to more users.
Other Android security features
Emergency Live Video is the latest addition to Google’s suite of safety features, designed to make help more accessible and faster in an emergency. Pixel users in Australia, North America, and several dozen countries in Europe now have access to Satellite SOS, which lets you call emergency services even without a cellular or wifi connection. Car Crash Detection contacts emergency services and shares your location in the event of a serious accident, while Fall Detection and Loss of Pulse Detection will call for help based on data from the Pixel Watch’s sensor.
