Skip to main content

857 missing/abducted children rescued as a result of AMBER alert program

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children says that a total of 857 children who were reported missing or abducted have been successfully rescued as a direct result of the AMBER alert program.

AMBER alerts are designed to get descriptions and vehicle details to everyone in the area as quickly as possible. They include television and radio appeals, but are notable for the text notifications sent to every mobile phone within range, known as Wireless Emergency Alerts …

As Engadget notes, these are not text messages, but are instead what’s known as Cell Broadcasts. For these, authorities don’t need to know your cell number or anything identifiable about you: the messages are automatically sent to every device within range of the cell towers that transmit them.

The huge advantage of Cell Broadcasts is that they are on by default, which means that almost every smartphone owner will receive them. They also have a unique and piercing sound, designed to cut through the clutter of other notification sounds.

In addition to child abduction cases,Wireless Emergency Alerts are sent for natural disasters, severe weather warnings and the like.

As of 2015, AMBER alerts are also sent through the Facebook app.


Check out 9to5Google on YouTube for more Google news and reviews!

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Google — experts who break news about Google and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Google on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel