In July 2023, residents of Missouri experienced a common challenge when the Missouri Highway Patrol issued an Amber Alert through a push notification that linked to a post on X (formerly Twitter). This shift in notification practices highlighted issues concerning the visibility of public safety alerts, as many individuals discovered they needed to log onto the platform to view the details. Lieutenant Eric Brown of the Missouri Highway Patrol expressed that the transition to X represented a significant change in how alerts were disseminated to the public.
Despite these complications, the Missouri Highway Patrol chose to continue utilizing X for issuing Amber Alerts, especially after X confirmed the agency’s account as an official government entity. This verification resolved the login accessibility issue, allowing the community to resume accessing crucial information on public safety.
In parallel, several accounts belonging to the California Highway Patrol on X also carry verification badges, signifying official status. However, some accounts, such as those associated with the Southern Division of the CHP, have not received similar verification. This inconsistency raises concerns about accessibility of critical safety information across different jurisdictions.
Previously, X was regarded as an integral tool for global emergency communications, providing government agencies and officials a platform to disseminate essential information during crises such as natural disasters and public safety emergencies. Before recent changes, users could view public tweets without logging into an account, ensuring that urgent messages reached the widest possible audience.
In June 2023, reports emerged that X began enclosing content behind login requirements, a move initiated by Elon Musk, who described it as a temporary measure to protect the platform from data scraping. The response to this logged-out access change suggests an inconsistency in accessibility for vital emergency communications, as non-account holders could no longer easily obtain critical safety alerts.
Testing conducted in October revealed that despite these barriers, government entities’ posts, such as those from the California Highway Patrol, remained accessible without requiring users to log in. However, personal accounts were still subject to restrictions, limiting the information available to the public during emergencies.
The previous model of X also included free access to its API for emergency communications, enabling organizations like the U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center to automate disaster alerts. The removal of this access has constrained organizations’ abilities to engage with the platform effectively, hindering proactive crisis communications and situational awareness for first responders and researchers evaluating real-time risks.
The evolving role of X underscores the complexities faced by government agencies when relying on third-party platforms for disseminating timely information. As X continues to modify its operational framework, agencies are compelled to adapt their strategies, ensuring continued communication with the public despite the diminished functionality of the platform.
Recent discussions among emergency communication officials indicate a commitment to maintaining X as a channel for updates, acknowledging its role in their overall communication strategy despite its limitations. The situation in Missouri serves as a reminder of the critical need for adaptive strategies in cybersecurity and emergency management practices as external platform policies evolve unpredictably.
