Sweden to test SE-Alert mobile emergency warning system

Sweden will conduct its first test of the new SE-Alert mobile emergency warning system on Monday at 15:00. The test will affect approximately 2.6 million people across 26 municipalities in Stockholm and Gotland counties, with potential reception in neighboring regions such as Uppsala, Södermanland, and Västmanland.

The system is designed to send loud signals and vibrations to smartphones, even if they are set to silent mode. For the alert to function, devices must be powered on and connected to a mobile network. Mikael Frisell, Director General of the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, noted that the system is a complement to existing warning methods like radio, television, and outdoor sirens.

However, the organization Roks (the national organization for women's and girls' shelters) has issued a warning regarding the system's impact on victims of domestic abuse. Adine Samadi, chair of Roks, stated that the loud signal could pose a life-threatening risk to women who rely on hidden mobile phones to maintain contact with the outside world while living under the control of a violent partner. Roks advises women in such situations to ensure any hidden devices are completely powered off during the test.