Madrid's 112 Alert Triggered Phones Despite Denied Permissions

Mobile alert for the DANA: sounded with permissions denied

Why did your phone chime simultaneously with those around you? The warning, issued by the Madrid Agency for Security and Emergency 112 (ASEM 112), placed the Community of Madrid at Level 1 of the INUNCAM Flood Plan due to extreme storm risks. The message explicitly advised against unnecessary travel and urged staying home. The chime sounded on phones and tablets, even with the device on silent, according to users.

What is Es-Alert and why does it sound with permissions denied?

According to the Es-Alert system, warnings are broadcast to all devices within a specific area. No installation or acceptance is required, causing frustration for those who had disabled notifications.

The fine print caused the most upset. Some users with all such permissions denied reported that their phones still chimed. Others encountered a new, unremovable 'Emergency Alerts' application. Even devices without a Google account received the message, while those using alternative systems like LineageOS without Google services did not.

'Presidential Alert': the name that confused users

The screen displays 'Presidential Alert'; in English, 'PRESIDENTIAL ALERT'. This label caused more confusion than the noise itself. The warning was issued by the Madrid Agency for Security and Emergency 112, led by Isabel Díaz Ayuso, not the central government. Some interpreted it as government intrusion, while others questioned why it wasn't called a state or government alert. Comparisons to the US system fueled both jokes and distrust.

The DANA justifying the warning: 69 mm in Navalcarnero

The intense rainfall was real, with serious consequences: one death in Toledo and two missing in Madrid, after a car fell into the Alberche river. Meteoclimatic recorded a peak of 69 mm in Navalcarnero. This sparked debate.

Critics argue the final rainfall did not match the severity of the warnings, while supporters maintain that flood plans activate for severe scenarios, judging the alert by potential, not actual, rainfall. The casualties are undisputed; the debate centers on the appropriate level of alarm.

The fright while driving and the cost of alarming too many people

The chime arrived simultaneously across the region without prior notice, with some terminals receiving two consecutive alerts. Critics argue this startle effect can cause the opposite of the intended result: distracted drivers, anxiety, or panic. While the utility of mass alerts for real risks is undisputed, the design, timing, and volume remain contentious.

Faraday cases, announced tests, and unsubstantiated theories

Barcelona announced the same message test for September 14 at 12:00, with other provinces testing months earlier. Madrid's surprise delivery fueled suspicion. Unsubstantiated theories circulated, suggesting climate confinement drills or informational blackouts. More practical discussions involved the Faraday case, a bag isolating devices from electromagnetic fields, named after physicist Michael Faraday, who invented it in 1836. Some even proposed leaving phones in windows to alert neighbors.

The next time phones chime at noon, the question remains: is it a life-saving alert or just an interruption? No solution exists to make it sound only when necessary, so Faraday cases sell well.