• Google's earthquake alert system failed to warn millions in Türkiye before the 2023 earthquakes.
• The system sent only 469 "Take Action" alerts despite nearly 10 million people being within 98 miles of the epicenter.
• Over 55,000 lives were lost due to two major earthquakes in February 2023, with Google's system significantly underestimating their magnitude.

Google has admitted that its Android Earthquake Alerts (AEA) system did not provide timely or accurate warnings to millions during the catastrophic earthquakes that struck Türkiye on February 6, 2023. The system, designed to alert people in real-time, failed to send its highest-level "Take Action" alerts to any significant portion of the population, with only 469 alerts issued for a region where nearly 10 million people lived within 98 miles of the epicenter. The first quake registered a magnitude of 7.8, yet the system initially estimated it incorrectly, as low as 4.5 on the moment magnitude scale, according to BBC and AA.

After the toll of exceeding 55,000 dead and over 100,000 injured due to these quakes, Google reevaluated the efficacy of its alert system. Notably, only about half a million users received a less impactful "Be Aware" notification that does not trigger alarms or override Do Not Disturb settings, further impacting its visibility, as many users were asleep when the quake occurred at 4:17 AM. This revelation came after initial claims from Google that the system had "performed well," which were later contradicted by internal findings and pressure from multiple sources, including India Times and TRT Global.

The AEA system uses sensors in Android devices, which account for over 70% of smartphones in Türkiye, to detect seismic activity. However, the technology was unable to provide urgent alerts accurately during a moment of critical need. A post-event analysis by Google's researchers revealed that the algorithms used for detection had limitations that were inadequately addressed before the quakes. This provided insight into a systemic issue within the software that, alarmingly, seemed to have gone unnoticed until after the disasters, noted both BBC and India Times.

Furthermore, after revising the algorithm, Google simulated the same event, which resulted in an output of 10 million "Take Action" alerts that could have been issued had the system functioned correctly. Concerns have emerged from experts about the reliance on such technology for disaster notifications, with warnings that governments might lower their investment in more reliable national alert systems, stating concerns for transparency and public trust in such technologies, as pointed out by BBC and TRT Global.