ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is asking the CEO of Google’s parent company to immediately address a software issue with Android cell phones that’s causing a surge of accidental 911 calls and putting a tremendous drain on emergency response resources.
Since 2021, Android has included a feature that automatically dials 911 if the phone’s power button is pushed five times in a row. It’s a safety feature for those who are unable, or can’t safely, unlock their phone and dial on the screen.
Ellison says it’s resulted in a massive increase of inadvertent calls. For example, Otter Tail County reports accidental 911 calls have doubled compared to the same period last year, resulting in hundreds of additional calls to emergency response centers.
Google has not immediately responded to a request for comment.