Spain Plans Softer Emergency Alerts After Concerns Over Loud Tones
Spain's interior ministry is set to introduce a new "pre-alert" level to the ES-Alert emergency warning system, featuring gentler sounds that users can choose to disable on their phones. These milder tones are intended for lower-risk situations, addressing concerns about the impact of loud alarms on people with mental health issues.
New Alert Features and Implementation
Imma Soler, deputy director of Catalonia's Civil Protection Agency, told public broadcaster 3Cat that the Spanish government has already created this new notification level, describing it as "a kind of pre-alert."
The new alerts will be accompanied by a "less insistent" tone and can be disabled on mobile phones by those who prefer not to receive them.
Background and Legislative Context
The move follows a motion passed by the Catalan Parliament urging the government led by Salvador Illa to "improve" the activation protocols for ES-Alert, aiming for "a balance between too much and too little."
Soler explained that ES-Alert was launched under a European directive mandating emergency alert systems in each member state. Managed by Spain's interior ministry, the alerts are issued by each autonomous community.
She emphasized that ES-Alert "is still young" after beginning tests in 2023 and remains in development.
Summary
Spain is refining its emergency alert system to introduce softer pre-alert tones that can be muted, balancing effective warnings with sensitivity towards mental health concerns.
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