Music, podcasts, audiobooks… emergency alerts? Spotify’s latest test for its streaming app is taking it to new territory by testing an emergency alert system in its home market of Sweden. According to code references inside the Spotify app, the company is considering a system that would help distribute public announcements about things like “accidents, serious events, or major service outages.”
The company confirmed to TechCrunch that it is testing such a system, but did not explain why it would be interested in offering this type of service to its users. There is no Swedish law requiring the app to do this, and Spotify says it is currently just exploring whether the app could support something like an emergency alert system.
This feature was first discovered by tech expert and reverse engineer Chris MessinaOne researcher hypothesized that the emergency alert service might prompt Spotify users to enable their app notifications. Users often disable notifications from non-essential apps, such as those in the social networking or entertainment space, making it harder for the app to grab users’ attention and market its new features.
But more broadly, emergency alert support would also cement Spotify’s position as a more important app to have on hand. It also enters Meta’s territory, as the social network has offered users ways to get updates during major disasters for nearly a decade with its Safety Check feature. Google has also leveraged the popularity of its app to alert users to disasters, as it has with earthquake alerts on Android. In the US, lawmakers have passed a law allowing users to receive updates during major disasters. previously I weighed the idea of claiming Video and live streaming applications to support emergency alerts as well as broadcast television, radio stations and cable TV systems.
The Spotify app’s code references the feature via the following phrases:
- Emergency alerts in Sweden
- “Receive public emergency alerts”
- “Important Public Announcement, IPA, is the system used to alert the public in Sweden in the event of accidents, serious events or interruptions to important services.”
- Visit the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency website for more information.
In a statement, a Spotify representative confirmed the test was being conducted, adding that it is currently only being tested in Sweden.
“At Spotify, we routinely run a number of tests in an effort to improve our user experience,” they said. “Some of these tests end up paving the way for a broader user experience while most serve simply as important learning.”