By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Google’s earthquake early warning system, designed to alert Android users in Turkey, failed to accurately notify millions during the 2023 earthquake. The system, which utilizes Android devices to detect seismic activity, only issued 469 “Take Action” alerts, the highest level warning, to those within 98 miles of the epicenter. Instead, half a million people received a lower-level “Be Aware” warning, despite the potential for life-threatening shaking. This miscalculation resulted in a lack of crucial alerts for approximately 10 million people, even though the system was live and capable of issuing warnings before the first 7.8 magnitude quake.
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Google failed to warn 10 million of Turkey earthquake, and that’s a real head-scratcher. I mean, we’re talking about a devastating event here, a massive earthquake in Turkey in 2023 that claimed over 55,000 lives and injured more than 100,000. The fact that a system designed to provide crucial seconds of warning, particularly when so many people were asleep and in vulnerable buildings, failed so spectacularly raises some serious questions.
The article makes it clear that Google had an early warning system in place, built into Android devices, which happen to be the dominant phone operating system in Turkey, used on over 70% of devices there. This system was designed to send out alerts, the most critical ones intended to give people up to 35 seconds to seek safety before the ground started shaking. That’s a significant amount of time that could make a life or death difference.
The problem? The system seemingly misfired. The article states that out of the potential ten million people who could have received the highest level alert, only a minuscule 469 actually got the “Take Action” warning. The vast majority, if they received anything at all, got a lower-level warning, one that’s not as prominently displayed and designed for less severe shaking. That’s a massive discrepancy, and Google has admitted its system underperformed.
Now, let’s be clear: the role of warning people during a disaster is generally the responsibility of a government. That’s a given. And, it seems like this failure of the Google system isn’t because the Turkish government failed to warn people. The fact is that the government *should* have its own systems in place. But, in a world that’s rapidly becoming reliant on technology, it’s also understandable that tech companies like Google try to provide helpful tools. What feels off here is the degree to which we’re potentially relying on a private company to provide life-saving information, especially when the company acknowledges its system didn’t work as intended during a critical event.
The article emphasizes that the technology, while present and activated on the day of the earthquake, underestimated the intensity of the event. A Google spokesperson acknowledged that the system is continually being improved. That’s good. But it still leaves you wondering what went wrong and whether those improvements have been fully validated. It also leads to questions of how the system is working now, if at all.
The article mentions that the BBC inquired about the system’s performance in the 2025 earthquake in Myanmar, but hadn’t received a response at the time of the article’s publication. The fact that there were similar systems that didn’t quite work, or that didn’t warn people in the way the government did, may be another factor to consider.
It’s also worth noting that the failure of Google’s system isn’t necessarily the whole picture. Others make the valid point that the poor construction of buildings was a massive factor in the widespread devastation. If buildings aren’t built to withstand earthquakes, even the best warning system might not be enough. Also, how were building codes implemented in Turkey and were those codes enforced?
There’s a lot to unpack here, a series of questions that need to be answered. It doesn’t excuse the potential failure of the Google system. The point is that Google does have a system in place.
This whole situation serves as a reminder of the complexities of disaster preparedness. There’s no single solution, no magic bullet. It’s a combination of government responsibilities, technological advancements, building codes, and, yes, private companies stepping in to provide a service. However, we can’t accept a scenario where a system claiming to offer potentially life-saving information just doesn’t deliver when it’s needed the most. And, we must also remember the critical role of a responsible government in protecting its citizens.