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Cellphone Alerts Used In New York To Search For Bombing Suspect

September 19, 2016 College of Arts and Humanities | Communication

Cellphone Alerts Used In New York To Search For Bombing Suspect

Faculty research shows limitations of Wireless Emergency Alerts system to track Chelsea bombing suspect.

J. David Goodman and David Gellessept | The New York Times

Citing research by associate Professor of communication Brooke Fisher Liu, the New York Times discussed the pitfalls of the federal Wireless Emergency Alert system: 

"For what is believed to be the first time, the nation’s Wireless Emergency Alerts system was deployed as an electronic wanted poster, identifying a 28-year-old man sought in connection with the bombings in Manhattan and New Jersey over the weekend.

"Suddenly, from commuter trains to the sidewalks of the city, millions were enlisted in the manhunt.

"The message was simple: “WANTED: Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28-yr-old male. See media for pic. Call 9-1-1 if seen.”

"In an instant, the reach and ubiquity of law enforcement in an age of terrorism and digital technology became apparent.

"The system, in place for several years, has been used to assist the authorities in moments of chaos and potential danger: after the Boston bombing in 2013, when the Boston suspects were still at large, and last month in Los Angeles, during an active shooter scare at the airport. In both cases, those receiving the message were told to shelter-in-place or were given safety updates.

"The “wanted” message sent Monday appeared to be the first widespread attempt to transform the citizens of a major American city into a vigilant and nearly omnipresent eye for the authorities. It added new meaning to the notion of “see something, say something,” even as it raised some concern that innocent people could be mistakenly targeted.

"In a paper recently published in The Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management, a group of professors investigated how people interpreted the W.E.A.s during an unfamiliar event, such as a fictional situation in which a dirty bomb went off. The results were not encouraging: Study participants found the messages — which are limited to 90 characters — confusing as well as fear-inducing."

Read the complete article at The New York Times.