Google Pixel devices are equipped with an emergency SOS feature designed to alert emergency services while notifying friends and family about your situation. Additionally, there’s an optional video recording capability that captures your environment during an emergency and shares the footage with your designated contacts.
In case you have this feature activated—preferably after heeding Google’s caution to proceed with care—let’s hope it never activates by mistake. A particular individual found this out the hard way when the SOS function was unintentionally triggered, sending intimate footage of themselves to a dozen friends.
This comical incident was shared on Reddit, along with a screenshot and the video that their Pixel phone inadvertently broadcasted, showcasing them in the buff.
“Suddenly, my phone starts ringing and texts flood in. Friends appear concerned, but more about the fact that MY PIXEL JUST SENT EVERYONE A PHOTO/VIDEO OF ME NAKED,” reads the post.
Apparently, the emergency SOS feature was mistakenly activated while the user attempted to silence their morning alarm, repeatedly pressing the power button. On Pixel phones, pressing the power button five times in quick succession activates the emergency function.
Upon activation, a countdown begins to place a call to 911. Additionally, if emergency sharing is enabled, a notification is dispatched to all emergency contacts set up in advance.
It’s important to note that Pixel’s Personal Safety app includes the option for sharing video. This feature captures footage while conversing with emergency responders, sharing your location, or even while using other applications.
These emergency recordings can last up to 45 minutes, and once uploaded, a link is shared with all your emergency contacts. You have the option to disable the link at any time, and if it receives excessive visits (over 120, per Google’s policy), the link will automatically expire.
This video-sharing feature is only active if you have set up emergency contacts and enabled it within the Personal Safety app. It’s particularly beneficial for those who have medical conditions, travel often, or otherwise might need to quickly communicate their circumstances to receive assistance.
However, in this instance, it turned out to be an amusing faux pas. “My embarrassment provided a light-hearted shock to everyone that morning or turned into a fun late-night call, depending on their time zone,” the Reddit user noted, drawing several similar stories from other users in the comments section.
It seems that emergency alerts have caught several individuals in rather intimate predicaments.
“My ex triggered it when the SOS feature first debuted. For some reason, she decided to test it while in the restroom and ended up sending me some rather awkward images from both cameras. Thankfully, she had only listed me as an emergency contact, and we both had a good laugh about it,” recounted a fellow Redditor.
“You’re not alone. My friend did something similar! Both her husband and I received a nude image of her,” commented another user in the thread. It seems that mistakenly activating emergency helplines is a pattern that extends beyond just Pixel phones, also affecting Apple products like the iPhone and Apple Watch.
In one instance, someone’s Apple Watch unintentionally triggered an emergency alert during an intimate moment. Another user shared that their dog activated a 911 call while they were engaged in playful interaction, causing an unintended call for help.
An Apple Watch user reported accidently summoning emergency services a staggering 43 times. Emergency responders are aware of this situation and suggest that individuals answer the call to clarify it was a mistake rather than disconnecting, which prompts them to check on the caller’s well-being.
