Social media platforms are not providing access to data for emergency services, hindering responders

From Investing.com: 2025-01-14 02:40:35

The Australian head of the world’s largest volunteer firefighting force expressed frustration with social media firms for not providing emergency services access to data, hindering responders globally as wildfires rage in Los Angeles. The New South Wales Rural Fire Service runs a network of 74,000 volunteers and staff in a fire-prone region. Australia experienced devastating wildfires in 2019-2020, prompting the RFS to develop an AI program called Athena to predict fire spread. However, companies like X and Meta are unwilling to give back-end data for free, impeding efforts to integrate social media posts for better fire prediction. The RFS commissioner highlighted the challenge of social media integration in emergency response, emphasizing the need for better tools. Dry conditions and strong winds have fueled uncontrollable fires in Los Angeles, reminiscent of the catastrophic blazes in Australia in recent years. Firefighters face challenges in containing the fires, with limited ability to control their spread.



Read more at Investing.com: As LA fights fires, Australian official urges more help from social media platforms By Reuters