Penny Mordaunt, the Tory MP for Portsmouth North, said the text alert system was “an important tool to better respond to emergencies”.
The Cabinet Office Minister added that “it will allow us to send lifesaving messages to people faster and more effectively”.
The alert system could be used to broadcast messages of public health emergencies as well as industrial incidents and terrorist attacks.
Cell broadcasting technology is used to create the warning system that ensures that warnings are “safe, free to air and one-way”.
The Cabinet Office added that instead of using people’s phone numbers, the system sends notifications to people in a specific area.
The government also issued the warnings, “Do not disclose your location or collect personal information. Alerts can only be sent by authorized government and emergency services users.”
