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Google is using two billion Android phones to detect earthquakes worldwide | Google's earthquake alert system performance matches seismometers in global test
Unlike conventional systems that use dedicated, expensive seismic instruments, Google's Android Earthquake Alerts system leverages the sheer scale of smartphones, which continuously collect motion data unless users...
Why it matters: Between 2021 and 2024, Google leveraged the motion sensors on more than two billion Android phones to create a global network capable of detecting earthquakes and sending automated warnings to millions across 98 countries. When revisiting the incident with upgraded algorithms, Google's team found that improved analysis would have triggered stronger 'TakeAction' alerts, reaching as many as ten million devices. While Google claims to be open about how its technology works, the proprietary nature of its algorithms and privacy concerns tied to user data remain barriers to broader scrutiny.
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