MTS, together with the Liza Alert search and rescue team, has presented the "MTS.GeoSearch" service, designed to accelerate the search for missing people. The solution is based on the transmission of subscriber location data in emergency situations, which can significantly increase the efficiency of search operations.
The service will be available to individuals — MTS subscribers. To activate it, you must give your consent in the operator's application (sections "Defender" or "Family Group"). In the event of an emergency, Liza Alert will have access to GPS coordinates, data on connection to Wi-Fi and cellular base stations. The accuracy of determining the location varies from 50 to 150 meters depending on the conditions.
How will it work?
- Data transfer will occur automatically after a request from Liza Alert.
- For this, an encrypted channel developed specifically for interaction with the search team will be used.
- According to the CEO of MTS, the service will comply with current legislation on the protection of personal data.
According to Inessa Galaktionova, CEO of MTS, this is the first service on the market that will allow relatives of a missing person to quickly obtain information about his or her location in real time.
In April 2024, the head of VimpelCom, Sergey Anokhin, announced the need for changes to the law "On Communications" to allow the use of geolocation in emergency cases. The method of determining the location of missing people based on data about the location of their mobile devices, as Anokhin explained, can only be applied if the SIM card is registered to a close relative who personally confirms the geolocation request of the device. It is also possible to provide preventive consent to the receipt of personal data by a third party. However, by the time permission or consent is obtained from law enforcement agencies, assistance to the missing person may no longer be required.
The Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media, Maksut Shadaev, who was also at this meeting, noted that modern technologies do indeed allow for quick and accurate location determination. However, the issue of data confidentiality is still open, especially when it comes to searching for missing people.
Previously, there was already an initiative to cancel the court decision for access to this data, but then the question immediately arose: will there be abuse on the part of law enforcement agencies or third parties, not always relatives?
Liza Alert has been searching for missing people since 2010, using modern technologies. Since 2012, the squad has been cooperating with VimpelCom (Beeline), which provides infrastructure for processing applications, big data analytics, and even AI for analyzing images from drones. However, the transfer of geodata is still limited by law.
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