SAIP – France’s Code Red

SAIP – France’s Code Red

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Israel has the Code Red app to alert people of a rocket attack happening in real time. Now, France has released its own app, released just in time for the UEFA Euro 2016 football tournament, to alert people to terror attacks.

As part of the massive security operation undertaken to secure the ten million or so expected spectators flocking to watch the Euro 2016 games, the French government has released a smartphone app designed to send out warning directly to people’s devices in the event of a terrorist attack.

The new app, called Système d’Alerte et d’Information des Populations (SAIP), was released by the French Interior Ministry as an effort to learn from the lessons of the November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris.

The app, which is available in French and English, receives an alert if an attack occurs in the vicinity of the user, reports Libération. If such an event occurs, the smartphone screen turns crimson and displays the word ALERT along with a brief description of the event, as well as suggestions as to how to react.

To protect users who may be hiding near where the attackers are, the app foregoes sounds and vibrations to not draw attention to the user. Rather, the app offers a button that when clicked provides information on whether a police rescue operation is underway and instruction from security forces on what to do.

An additional function the app serves, say officials at the French Interior Ministry, is to relay accurate information on events to counter inaccuracies that could spread through social media. Alerts from the app can be shared on Facebook and Twitter.

As well as bombings and shootings, the app will be upgraded to also issue alerts users to flag industrial accidents, floods, and other emergencies.