Pakistan’s Safe City project aims to protect the citizens of this country against crime. The app recently added a feature for citizens to share live video footage with law enforcement for faster response times.
Now Google appears to be adding the same thing to Android phones widely. The Android maker announced a new feature called Android Emergency Live Video, which allows users to share live video with emergency services. As the name suggests, the feature enables real-time video streaming during emergencies, and it works with a single tap.
During an emergency call or text, a dispatcher can request live video from your phone. If you agree, you can start securely streaming with one tap.
The live video feed lets emergency responders quickly assess the situation and determine what help is needed. With the real-time view, they can also guide you through life-saving steps, such as CPR, until help arrives.
The feature requires no prior setup. It is encrypted by default, and you remain in control of what you share. You decide whether to share the video and when to stop sharing.
The new feature will be available for Android phones running Android 8 and later with Google Play Services.
Android Emergency Live Video is rolling out in the United States, select regions of Germany, and select regions of Mexico. It will probably roll out to more countries if the feature proves successful. Google says it is “closely working with public safety organizations around the world” to expand Android Emergency Live Video to more regions in the future.
