Google recently deactivated its Android Earthquake Alerts System in Brazil after it mistakenly sent false earthquake warnings to users in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The alerts, issued early on February 14, 2025, claimed there was seismic activity near Ubatuba, São Paulo, with a potential magnitude of 5.5. These notifications caused widespread confusion and concern among residents, as they included safety recommendations such as avoiding damaged buildings and checking gas supplies. However, no seismic activity was recorded by local or international monitoring systems, and the Civil Defense of São Paulo confirmed that no official alerts had been issued.
The Android Earthquake Alerts System uses the accelerometers in Android smartphones to detect initial seismic vibrations (P-waves) and crowdsources this data to estimate earthquake activity. While the system has successfully provided early warnings in other regions, such as during a quake in the Philippines in 2021, it has also faced challenges, including this false alarm and a reported failure to issue alerts during a major earthquake in Turkey in 2023.
Google acknowledged the error, apologized for the inconvenience caused, and promptly disabled the system in Brazil while investigating the incident. The company stated that unusual signals from smartphones near São Paulo’s coast triggered the false alerts but has not yet disclosed the specific cause of the malfunction. Google emphasized that its system is designed to complement, not replace, official government alert mechanisms.
This incident highlights both the potential and limitations of crowdsourced early warning systems. While they can provide critical seconds of warning during actual earthquakes, false alarms risk eroding public trust and creating unnecessary panic. Moving forward, Google is committed to refining its technology to prevent similar issues and ensure greater reliability in emergency notifications.