The Interior Ministry app, called SAIP, flashes a warning on a user's mobile phone screen.
Users can also request alerts for up to eight geographic areas, including individual districts in the capital.
Ahead of the Euro
2016 football tournament, The France government has released an app
that will help citizens get instant information on terror attacks in the
country. The app is simple and will alert the geo-located users in case
of a suspected terror attack. The government told the BBC that the app
was developed after the Paris Attacks that took place in November last
year, where 130 people lost their lives.
The Interior Ministry app, called SAIP, flashes a warning on a user's
mobile phone screen if there is an attack close to their location or
suspicion of an imminent strike. Users can also request alerts for up to
eight geographic areas, including individual districts in the capital.
"'Things are getting better?' The creation of #SAIP leaves you
thinking that, at least in terms of security, it's not really the case,"
said one Twitter user, referring to President Francois Hollande's
mantra that life for the French is improving. "Not very reassuring, but
it is useful," said another Twitter user.
Earlier this week, the French intelligence agencies and the United
States had sent out an alert, warning that stadiums, fan zones and
transport hubs are possible targets for attacks during the football
tournament. Using the new app, users will be able to sign up to receive
alerts in up to eight different geo-location zones in addition to their
present location. The alerts will bring in brief descriptions of what
has happened and advice on how they can stay safe.
According to the Metro UK, the app is also designed not to vibrate or
send out any audible alerts when there are notifications from it. This
has been done so that if a user gets an alert and is present in the
attack zone, it would not alert the attackers about it. The app also
stresses on user’s privacy protection.
The latest version of the app also offers emergency details, apart
from floods, industrial attacks and a few others. The app is available
for iOS and Android.