Bold new safety feature for Android users: you can share a live video during 911 calls.
Stevie Bonifield
is a news writer who covers consumer tech, with a background in news and reviews of hardware, gaming, and AI.
Android is rolling out a feature that lets people stream live video from their smartphones to 911 responders during emergencies. This real-time view can help responders guide callers through CPR or other first aid while paramedics are on the way. It can also be invaluable when someone is lost, highly stressed, or unable to clearly describe what’s happening.
During a 911 call, responders can request a live video. The caller must approve before any video is shared, and the feed is encrypted by default. The caller can stop streaming at any time.
This Android feature mirrors a similar capability on iOS called Emergency SOS Live Video, which Apple introduced in 2024. That iPhone feature lets users share a live video feed or photos and videos from their Photos app with 911 or emergency services.
According to Android software engineer Alastair Breeze, Emergency Live Video is “rolling out initially to RapidSOS, Motorola Solutions, and Prepared911 safety platforms in the US,” beginning today. It requires an Android device running Android 8 or later with Google Play services enabled.
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- Stevie Bonifield
