CRTC Emergency Broadcast to Cell phones

[tigger5]

To start, I already emailed telus, and received an answer from them...so any "telus" employee need not reply if it will be about not being able to.

So, the question..How do I opt out of this????.. I can not believe this is FORCED on me and that there is NO WAY OUT. I do not want it...I do not care for it...I am not interested in it.

I have my reasons......

[MTL_Dave · Accepted solution]

Hello,

It's CRTC mandated and at this point customers cannot opt out of it:

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission gave wireless providers a year to implement the system with a deadline of April 6 to be ready to go live. A report by the CRTC said most wireless providers were in favour of an opt-out option or the ability to disable the alarm for some types of alerts, but consumers can't turn off the warnings.

[tigger5]

Thanx but...Doesn't help me...if anything gives me the urge to disconnect my cell all together....I did not get a cell phone it to be bothered...

I

[Lola]

The alert system is hysterical nonsense and a huge overreach by the CRTC into the private affairs of Canadian citizens. I expect a hack soon to shut the annoyance out.

[NFtoBC]

Based on the frequency of existing alerts, I doubt anyone will receive many of these in a year. They are no doubt aware of the fable of The Boy  Who Called Wolf.

The Alert Ready website lists the sorts of notifications a geographic area might receive. Most are rare.

[tigger5]

@ NFtoBC, that's not the point......my phone, I decide what I want...as Lola said (so true) they went WAY over a line..

[WestCoasterBC]

Complain to the govt and CRTC, carriers are just following what they’re instructed to do.

Personally I don’t think it’s a big deal, it’s an alert system. For tornados, tsunamis etc when in your “Local” area only..Almost all Canadians just use a cell phone, and is always on their person. Makes sense to me for a fast alert.

You’ll receive more spam calls and texts in a year then any “alerts” they may push.

I’d be more worried using Facebook for privacy..

[tigger5]

Did complain...did not get an answer yet from anyone....

Considering how often we are reminded by our government that we are a "democratic" country, seems to me this is more of a "dictatorship"....and before anyone adds the "high importance" part...sorry, does not wash as an excuse, to me, for our government to access my phone...even if it is just to send me an emergency message....

http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/emergency-alerts-system-phones-canada-1.4586367

"People cannot opt out of this," said CRTC spokesperson Patricia Valladao. "There is a high importance that people — want it or not — receive these alerts."

[NFtoBC]

Actually, Canada is a Constitutional Monarchy. Everybody doing as they please is called anarchy, not democracy.

And the 'government' doesn't access your phone. There is a broadcast which your phone receives. Just like good old AM radio.

[tigger5]

Going a little off topic ...no???....not talking about everyone doing as they please...talking about gov sticking their hands where they shouldn't

As for not accessing...no, they are not in the sense of getting to my apps , files ..etc.....but they are still in a way, getting to my phone...same as telemarketers calling (which CRTC does have a "do not call list") ....

[Lola]

The complaint isn't about how often alerts might arrive, but about the fact we're forced to take them, not offered, but dictated. If my building is on fire and I choose not to leave, there is no law that can force me out of my apartment, or make me acknowledge a knock at my door. I know this because I've refused to leave twice over my decades here, most recently a month ago, and the firefighter had to walk away. He kind of swore at me,  but he walked away. I was right to refuse both times, there was no cause for anyone to leave. There was no cause for the door-knocking alert. These alerts are useless if people can't be forced to abide them, and if we can't be forced to abide them, then we shouldn't be forced to take them on our devices if we don't want them, like we're forced to take the door-knocking. We have enough nanny interference already, and the CRTC knows that if given a choice, few people would use their alert system. That opt-out hack better arrive before fire season.

[tigger5]

Petition....should be set to automatically send to...

justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca
ralph.goodale@parl.gc.ca
patrick.tanguy@canada.ca
scott.shortliffe@canada.ca

https://chn.ge/2HkDlMp

[BillTelusCust]

Much ado about nothing.

I've received alerts three times.  Ever.  In the USA.

I receive far more scam calls from the mexican travel fraudsters and the CRA scammers.

[tigger5]

Probably, but if nothing is tried, definatly nothing will change...

[tigger5]

What a surprise....

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/public-alert-system-quebec-1.4651551

[WestCoasterBC]

It’s one of two tests, being a new system hiccups are to be expected.

[tigger5]

I worked a long time in the federal gov system...does not matter which gov is in power, when they stick their noses in something they shouldn't, it is not long before it turns to and stays crappy....

I see this working as well as the "phoenix" system...remember,...it is always the "lowest" bidder....or so and so's buddy...

I have seen hundereds of thousands spent repairing something that initially costed just thousands, just to save face and prove it works....

[Lola]

@tigger5-- I also work for the fed gov, so I hear you. I just WANT OUT!

[Syaoran]

It is possible to remove or disable it if you are an Android user.  If your device is rooted, you can delete the appropriate app, which has a triangle icon with an exclamation point in it.  I have removed it from the two Galaxy S9's I have, a V30 belonging to a friend, and my mother's Note 8.  If your device isn't rooted, ADB will help you rid yourself of it or you can find a package disabler for your device in the Play Store to disable it.  

[tigger5]

@Syaoran ..I hope your info helps others...myself, using an iPhone and do not see any way to disable this.

[Syaoran]

I'm sure it will.  I was a little vague because I am not too sure what the policy here is on disabling emergency apps and also messing with apps with system permissions and protections.  I know some carriers hate it when people mess with their devices.  Root obviously is a little different than ADB commands though, which are baked right into Android.