Mobile Alert and Warning in the United States and Japan: Confronting the Challenges of International Harmonization

Abstract

A U.S.-Japan expert workshop on mobile alert and warning was held online 8–10 September 2021. Funded by the Japan Foundation’s Center for Global Partnership (CGP) and responding to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, the workshop compared U.S. and Japanese mobile alert and warning contexts, systems, policies, and messages to investigate possibilities for international harmonization of mobile device-based early warning. The workshop’s sessions revealed two interrelated issues that repeatedly surfaced among workshop participants: culture and policy. The workshop illuminated several possibilities and problems confronting U.S., Japanese, and global stakeholders as they develop, deploy, and seek to improve the effectiveness of mobile alert and warning systems and messages.

Wireless emergency alerts: Public understanding, trust, and preferences following the 2021 US nationwide test

“…The survey focused on issues of public understanding, trust, and preferences concerning the WEA system. Findings contribute to addressing theoretical and practical issues that researchers have identified in three areas, specifically, (a) public understanding of the WEA system's uses, message classes, and technical capabilities (National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine, 2018); (b) public trust that the WEA system will work properly (Woody & Ellison, 2014); and (c) device‐based public education (Bean, 2019).…”

“…FEMA and the FCC's rationale for limiting the national test was to “minimize confusion,” a possibility that was not elaborated (FEMA, 2021; para. 5), but considerable public mockery and calls for opting out of other types of WEA messages followed the inaugural 2018 Presidential Alert test (Bean, 2019; FCC, 2021).…”

“…Mobile technology offers new ways to conduct public warning (National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine, 2018). However, the rapid development and implementation of mobile public warning systems has historically outpaced research concerning their benefits, limitations, and efficacy (Bean, 2019), as well as research concerning how these systems may reflect and perpetuate inequalities (Ellcessor, 2022). Researchers have recognized how “opt‐out” mobile systems that allow users to “block” certain types of alert and warning messages present a particular challenge: Unlike a siren or a radio or television broadcast, mobile device users are more easily able to ignore messages.…”

“…There is extremely limited public information about what specific emergencies might cause a “national alert” WEA message to be issued. Multiple studies have found a lack of public understanding of the WEA system's uses and capabilities (Bean, 2019; Bennett, 2015; National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine, 2018). We were therefore interested in whether people could identify which WEA message classes can be opted out of on their mobile devices.…”

“…The first national WEA system test in 2018, along with various local and regional tests, have indicated that between 75% and 80% of respondents who own a mobile device report test message reception (Bean, 2019). Wireless infrastructure improvements and device upgrades could be expected to increase this number.…”