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| Spotify Tests Emergency Alerts System in Sweden to Enhance User Safety |
Spotify is exploring new territory by testing an emergency alerts system in its home market of Sweden, according to code references found within the app. This system aims to distribute public announcements related to accidents, serious events, or disruptions of essential services.
The feature was uncovered by technologist and reverse engineer Chris Messina, who suggested that it could push users to enable app notifications, which are often disabled for non-essential apps like those in social networking or entertainment. This move could make Spotify more essential to users and expand its functionality beyond just music, podcasts, and audiobooks.
Spotify confirmed to TechCrunch that it is testing the emergency alerts system but did not provide a specific reason for its interest in offering such a service. There is no Swedish law requiring Spotify to provide emergency alerts, and the company emphasized that this is only an exploratory test to see if the app could support such a system.
Supporting emergency alerts could enhance Spotify's status as a vital app and encroach on Meta’s territory, which has offered disaster updates with its Safety Check feature for nearly a decade. Similarly, Google uses its app popularity to provide earthquake alerts on Android. In the U.S., lawmakers have considered requiring streaming apps to support emergency alerts in addition to traditional TV and radio broadcasters.
Code references in the Spotify app include phrases like "Emergency alerts in Sweden," "Receive public emergency alerts," and "Visit the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency site for more information."
A Spotify representative confirmed the test, stating it is currently only being conducted in Sweden. They explained that Spotify routinely conducts various tests to improve user experience, with some tests leading to broader changes while others serve as learning opportunities.
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