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Android’s emergency call shortcut is flooding dispatchers with false calls

arstechnica.com

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Re: Android’s emergency call shortcut is flooding dispatchers with false calls

#31

Post by moojd »

danpalmer wrote: post #12

iPhones have exactly the same feature, activated in almost the same way, except that it requires one fewer interactions with the device to trigger, and yet, there's no reporting about this happening too much with iPhones, nor was there any when the feature came out a few years ago. Additionally, this doesn't seem to have been a problem when it rolled out on Pixel devices a year and a half ago, Pixels are certainly co…

There have been a few articles about iPhone 911 calls at bonaroo this week:

https://gizmodo.com/iphones-false-911-calls-bonnaroo-android...

Re: Android’s emergency call shortcut is flooding dispatchers with false calls

#32

Post by danpalmer »

Izkata wrote: post #15
danpalmer wrote: post #12

iPhones have exactly the same feature, activated in almost the same way, except that it requires one fewer interactions with the device to trigger, and yet, there's no reporting about this happening too much with iPhones, nor was there any when the feature came out a few years ago. Additionally, this doesn't seem to have been a problem when it rolled out on Pixel devices a year and a half ago, Pixels are certainly co…

Seems obvious to me: Power is opposite Volume on Samsung Android phones, but not on Pixel. Easy to hit both buttons at once, and iPhone may do something special to detect that. My Blackberry Android phone is the same, I remember having to train myself not to hit power when I first got it because my previous phone wasn't like this.

Ah! Good point. Yes on my iPhone if I press one or both volume buttons while pressing power 5 times it doesn't trigger, and yes on my Pixel the power button is above the volume button.

It seems strange that Samsung wouldn't do something to tackle this. Part of the point of Samsung and other OEMs taking ages to roll out new Android versions is that they're testing and ensuring compatibility.

Re: Android’s emergency call shortcut is flooding dispatchers with false calls

#33

Post by danpalmer »

at_a_remove wrote: post #23
danpalmer wrote: post #12

iPhones have exactly the same feature, activated in almost the same way, except that it requires one fewer interactions with the device to trigger, and yet, there's no reporting about this happening too much with iPhones, nor was there any when the feature came out a few years ago. Additionally, this doesn't seem to have been a problem when it rolled out on Pixel devices a year and a half ago, Pixels are certainly co…

Not that different. In 2018, there were a lot of fake 911 calls from iPhones, if you look around for it. Now the iPhone's fake 911 call issue comes from its "auto car crash detection," which gets set off when people ski and, well, fall.

I've seen that but I consider it to be a separate issue. Same result but completely different cause, and arguably a harder one to get right.

Re: Android’s emergency call shortcut is flooding dispatchers with false calls

#34

Post by caditinpiscinam »

sowbug wrote: post #11

Possibly related: I've noticed that when I'm in humid weather and I stick my phone into a damp pocket, it basically monkey-tests until I pull it back out again. Flashlight might be on, string of gibberish might be queued up on a text message, etc. I'm normally really good about locking the screen when I'm done, but something with fingerprint or face recognition or lock screen quick actions behaves poorly.

Maybe you have smart lock turned on? https://support.google.com/android/answer/9075927

Re: Android’s emergency call shortcut is flooding dispatchers with false calls

#35

Post by krzyk »

sowbug wrote: post #11

Possibly related: I've noticed that when I'm in humid weather and I stick my phone into a damp pocket, it basically monkey-tests until I pull it back out again. Flashlight might be on, string of gibberish might be queued up on a text message, etc. I'm normally really good about locking the screen when I'm done, but something with fingerprint or face recognition or lock screen quick actions behaves poorly.

I have the same thing, I tried to disable all functions of my Pixel 4 that would do that.

It amazes me that the simplest thing is not done here: if proximity sensor senses your screen is covered - do not enable the screen ever.

When I'm jogging my phone sometimes sends texts, runs apps etc, same when I have phone in my pocket.

Why don't they use proximity sensor?

Re: Android’s emergency call shortcut is flooding dispatchers with false calls

#37

Post by MattGaiser »

sowbug wrote: post #11

Possibly related: I've noticed that when I'm in humid weather and I stick my phone into a damp pocket, it basically monkey-tests until I pull it back out again. Flashlight might be on, string of gibberish might be queued up on a text message, etc. I'm normally really good about locking the screen when I'm done, but something with fingerprint or face recognition or lock screen quick actions behaves poorly.

I think this is a touchscreen thing. If I take my phone in the shower and put it in a place where water splashes on it during the shower, it does all sorts of random stuff. Have to remember to set it to locked or else I might text someone or delete an email.

Re: Android’s emergency call shortcut is flooding dispatchers with false calls

#38

Post by Semaphor »

sowbug wrote: post #11

Possibly related: I've noticed that when I'm in humid weather and I stick my phone into a damp pocket, it basically monkey-tests until I pull it back out again. Flashlight might be on, string of gibberish might be queued up on a text message, etc. I'm normally really good about locking the screen when I'm done, but something with fingerprint or face recognition or lock screen quick actions behaves poorly.

Yeah, happens every summer to me.

Re: Android’s emergency call shortcut is flooding dispatchers with false calls

#39

Post by Semaphor »

danpalmer wrote: post #12

iPhones have exactly the same feature, activated in almost the same way, except that it requires one fewer interactions with the device to trigger, and yet, there's no reporting about this happening too much with iPhones, nor was there any when the feature came out a few years ago. Additionally, this doesn't seem to have been a problem when it rolled out on Pixel devices a year and a half ago, Pixels are certainly co…

The iPhone had its articles about it half a year ago: https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=pastYear&page=0&prefix=tru...

Re: Android’s emergency call shortcut is flooding dispatchers with false calls

#40

Post by ixwt »

krzyk wrote: post #35
sowbug wrote: post #11

Possibly related: I've noticed that when I'm in humid weather and I stick my phone into a damp pocket, it basically monkey-tests until I pull it back out again. Flashlight might be on, string of gibberish might be queued up on a text message, etc. I'm normally really good about locking the screen when I'm done, but something with fingerprint or face recognition or lock screen quick actions behaves poorly.

I have the same thing, I tried to disable all functions of my Pixel 4 that would do that. It amazes me that the simplest thing is not done here: if proximity sensor senses your screen is covered - do not enable the screen ever. When I'm jogging my phone sometimes sends texts, runs apps etc, same when I have phone in my pocket. Why don't they use proximity sensor?

I remember having an issue with a Nexus that I had a while back. I had a hard time getting the screen to turn on and stay on. Turns out, I had misapplied the screen protector and the proximity sensor was thinking that it was in a situation which it shouldn't turn on.

While it was my own doing, I can see many people having that problem to the point where Android turned off the functionality. Multiple support calls, requests to return "defective" phones, etc.

But yeah, I currently have the same issue. If my current Pixel 3a is in my slightly damp pocket, it will have tried to "monkey touching" as the post above called it.

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