Emergency alerts could soon interrupt your binge-watching sessions: Senators push new bill to 'explore' adding the notifications to streaming services such as Netflix and Spotify

  • The US READI Act proposes including emergency alerts on Netflix and Spotify 
  • Brought by senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and John Thune (R-South Dakota)
  • It also calls on FEMA to 'create best practices' for government emergency alerts
  • The bill comes in the wake of the false missile alert sent to residents in Hawaii 

Your next Netflix binge could get interrupted by emergency alerts. 

US senators have introduced a bill that proposes new standards for emergency alert systems, including the possibility of delivering them on streaming services like Spotify and Netflix. 

Called the Reliable Emergency Alert Distribution Improvement (READI) Act, it was brought by Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz and South Dakota Senator John Thune. 

US senators have introduced a bill that proposes new standards for emergency alert systems, including the possibility of delivering them on streaming services like Spotify and Netflix

US senators have introduced a bill that proposes new standards for emergency alert systems, including the possibility of delivering them on streaming services like Spotify and Netflix

The senators aim to make sure more Americans are aware of emergency alerts on their cellphones, TVs, radio and newer platforms like video and audio streaming services, according to a release announcing the bill. 

'When a missile alert went out across Hawai‘i in January, some people never got the message on their phones, while others missed it on their TVs and radios,' Schatz said in a statement. 

'Even though it was a false alarm, the missile alert exposed real flaws in the way people receive emergency alerts.'

Schatz is referring to the incident in Hawaii earlier this year, when state residents received a text falsely warning them of an incoming ballistic missile. 

The text, which said 'Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii,' was accidentally sent by an employee who believed that a nuclear missile was on the way. 

The staffer was later fired from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. 

The bill also seeks to establish better standards for reporting and retracting emergency alerts, citing the incident in Hawaii where residents were sent an alert falsely warning a missile attack

The bill also seeks to establish better standards for reporting and retracting emergency alerts, citing the incident in Hawaii where residents were sent an alert falsely warning a missile attack

The senators aim to make sure more Americans are aware of emergency alerts on their cellphones, TVs, radio and newer platforms like video and audio streaming services

The senators aim to make sure more Americans are aware of emergency alerts on their cellphones, TVs, radio and newer platforms like video and audio streaming services

As part of the bill, the senators have asked FEMA to 'create best practices' for governments to use for sending out alerts, avoiding false alerts and retracting false alerts. 

It also calls on FEMA to create a reporting system for false alerts so they can be better tracked and investigated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

'Emergency alerts save lives but management mistakes can erode their credibility and effectiveness,' Thune explained in a statement. 

'The READI Act implements lessons learned from past incidents and recognizes that emergency protocols must change along with communication technology.'

WHAT ARE EMERGENCY ALERTS ON IOS? 

Apple issues emergency alerts automatically for iPhone users. 

These include alerts from or concerning: 

  • Your country or region's government
  • Imminent threats to safety or life
  • Extreme weather conditions 
  • AMBER alerts

Apple notes that government alerts are turned on by default in iOS. 

They can be managed by going to Settings, then Notifications. 

Users can click on 'Government Alerts' to view more options.  

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However, even if the bill passes, it's unclear whether that would mean emergency alerts will be added to popular streaming services right away.

The bill only asks that the FCC 'complete an inquiry to examine the feasibility of establishing systems and signaling to offer Emergency Alert System alerts to audio and video streaming services delivered over the internet.' 

The senators gave the FCC 270 days to file a report on its findings.

As more and more consumers cut the cord in favor of services like Netflix or Hulu, it makes sense that officials want to ensure that emergency alerts are being seen by everyone. 

Emergency alerts are also issued over the air via iOS and Android smartphones.