FAQs
Get answers to frequently asked questions
Your Questions Answered
How does it work?
Can I respond to messages?
No. The system is designed for one-way communication only. During emergencies the staff are in no position to respond to individual communications. We recommend you use the usual emergency numbers in your area if you need to get in touch with the authorities.
Conventional location services are traditionally very heavy on battery– will this system not drain my battery?
No. Our proprietary technology has fixed that problem, to the degree that with normal phone usage, the app will utilise about 1-2% of the battery without sacrificing accuracy – which is about 10 metres. This is critically important. ‘Normal’ tracking engines, if left on 24/7 would require the device to be charged about 4 or 5 times per day. The Safe-citizen location engine will still work– it is so efficient, it even survives the ‘low-power’ shutdown at 20% power remaining, meaning even if your device has VERY low battery remaining– you will still receive the benefits of the safe-citizen mobile app.
Do I have to accept notifications?
Yes, otherwise the system will simply not be able to send your device any alerts which may in turn, compromise your safety.
How does the platform work?
There are 2 parts to the platform; 1. The safe-citizens mobile application, which sends updated positions to 2. The backend, the control centre which has the responsibility to notify members of the public who might be close to danger, as and when it arises.
How secure is the system?
Very. As you can imagine, citizen’s safety is the #1 priority of the authorities, so there are certain security standards that need to be met for all these systems. These are constantly monitored, tested and upgraded as needed.
How will I know when it is safe to carry on as normal?
All the alerted devices will receive ongoing updates as the incident develops and is resolved. Once the authorities deem it safe, they will send and ‘all clear’ message to all of the affected devices.
If the system doesn’t know who I am, how will it let me know if I’m in danger?
The system keeps note of the current positions of all of the anonymised devices which have the app, by the numbers it has already assigned to them. If a certain group of devices is seen to be in the danger area, those, and only those, will be ‘lit up’ on the system and appropriate safety instructions sent. These will arrive almost instantly on the device via the Instant Messaging Push Notification system, will alert the owner and issue the advice. It is worthwhile to note that SMS is NOT used because it is not nearly as reliable as IM, and needs your phone number (and therefore your name).
What sort of messages will I receive?
You will only receive alerts from the authorities that you are close to an incident, along with appropriate instructions to keep you safe. People who have the app but are not in any danger, will not receive these messages.
When travelling, will I need to download a different app for all of the other cities where the system is used?
No, all of the individual city apps will work equally well in other affiliated cities.
Privacy
Is this not Big Brother tracking its citizens?
No. We value your privacy as much as you do. The system is 100% anonymous. The authorities have no need to know who they are alerting– just that someone might be in danger and it is incumbent on them to steer them to safety.
How do you assure individual privacy?
In 2 ways; firstly, when the app is downloaded, it does not ‘connect’ with any of the devices ID’s like the mac address, phone number EMEI number etc, which are all linked to you as an individual, the app stays 100% independent from the device. When it is activated for the first time, it receives a new, randomly generated number from the system so the system can recognise it. The second safeguard is that the system is a ‘live’ system. That means that it only shows the device’s current position, as a dot on a map. As soon as the device moves and generates another, new position, the previous one is deleted from the data. This ensures that no history of movements is stored and therefore, no ‘tracking’ can take place.
If the system doesn’t know who I am, how will it let me know if I’m in danger?
The system keeps note of the current positions of all of the anonymised devices which have the app, by the numbers it has already assigned to them. If a certain group of devices is seen to be in the danger area, those, and only those, will be ‘lit up’ on the system and appropriate safety instructions sent. These will arrive almost instantly on the device via the Instant Messaging Push Notification system, will alert the owner and issue the advice. It is worthwhile to note that SMS is NOT used because it is not nearly as reliable as IM, and needs your phone number (and therefore your name).
Who will be able to see my location?
As the system is 100% anonymous- nobody can see ‘you’- only a device with a number allocated to it. Even so- only the relevant authorities in that area/city/region/state who have authorised access to the platform will be able to ‘see’ the devices’ positions. It is worthwhile noting that only trained, vetted and supervised staff will have access to the system.
Who will be able to send me messages?
Only the relevant authorities in that area/city/region/state who have authorised access to the platform will be able to send messages, and then only on the instruction of the senior controller at that time. It is worthwhile noting that only trained, vetted and supervised staff will have access to the system.
Will this be used to send me marketing / sales messages?
Absolutely not! This is a high-tech platform designed with the sole purpose of keeping members of the public safe in uncertain or dangerous situations, it is managed and run by the appropriate authorities and managed by highly trained professionals.
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