Amber Alerts

National

Phone Emergency Alerts Will Begin Including Links, Phone Numbers

2:40pm September 29, 2016

by Alina Selyukh

Regulators have voted to expand cellphone alerts to 360 characters from the previous cutoff at 90 and to begin including clickable URLs and phone numbers over the next year or so. But no photos yet.

New York officials used the wireless emergency system to alert people across the city of a suspect in connection with the bombings in New York and New Jersey.

National

New York's Use Of Phone Alert Shines Spotlight On Wireless Emergency System

7:00pm September 19, 2016

by Alina Selyukh

"WANTED," blared New York's alert. "Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28-year-old male." This year, nonfederal authorities have sent as many wireless emergency alerts as in the previous three years put together.

An example of what Facebook's Amber Alerts will look like.

National

Facebook To Post Amber Alerts To Help Find Missing Kids

1:16pm January 13, 2015

by Jasmine Garsd

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children says social networking and sharing are essential in helping to find minors who may have been abducted.

Amber Alerts were issued as cellphone text messages in California this week.

National

New Digital Amber Alerts Could Create A Backlash

1:20pm August 09, 2013

by Steve Henn

Recent Amber Alerts startled millions of mobile phone owners and left them confused. The wireless emergency alert system just rolled out for mobile phones earlier this year. Some child advocates worry that the alerts' lack of context may cause people to turn them off.

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