Advocacy Group Suggests Domestic Violence Victims Turn Off Hidden Phones Before Nationwide Emergency Test

Domestic Violence Victims Advised to Turn Off ‘Hidden Phones’ Before Today’s Emergency Alert Test – The Messenger, 2023/10/04

A survivor advocacy group is warning people in abusive situations to turn off their “hidden phones” ahead of a federal emergency alert system test planned for 2:20 EDT this afternoon.

In a Facebook post, Safe Hope, a survivor-focused nonprofit based in Newton, Kansas, warned that the test could be dangerous for people who have a phone they keep hidden in the event of domestic violence emergencies.

…
If a phone is turned off before the alert is sent out — and kept off during for the duration of the 30-minute test — that phone shouldn’t receive the message, according to the agencies.

Especially in cases where their movements and communications are being tracked, people in abusive situations sometimes use secondary phones to make contact with support groups, book appointments, and reach out to loved ones.

…
The alerts can harm domestic violence survivors by alerting abusers to their hidden devices, potentially leading to retaliation.

Good advice.