Google today made a new app available to Android devices that lets people share their location with others during emergencies.
The app, called Trusted Contacts, simplifies the process of adding friends and family as emergency contacts. It allows trusted contacts to request location at any time.
“If everything’s fine, you can deny the request,” explains Google, “but if you’re unable to respond your location is shared automatically.”
This works even when offline or the phone’s battery is dead. On the flip side, users can proactively share their location if they feel unsafe or become involved in an emergency situation. People added to the Trusted Contacts list will see the phone’s activity status to know the owner is okay.
The app is an alternative to something such as Facebook’s Safety Check, which allows users of the social network to mark themselves safe during times of crisis. Safety Check is something that Facebook turns on when particular events warrant it. Trusted Contacts from Google can be used at any time, during any circumstances.
Trusted Contacts is free to download from the Google Play Store.
