Google has rolled out its Emergency Location Service (ELS) in India for compatible Android smartphones, adding a critical layer of support for users seeking help during emergencies. The feature allows callers or texters to share their precise location automatically with emergency services, including police, medical teams, and fire departments, the moment an emergency call or message is initiated.

Uttar Pradesh is the first state to make the service fully operational. While ELS has existed on Android devices running version 6.0 and above for several years, it only works once local authorities integrate it with their emergency response systems. That integration has now been completed in Uttar Pradesh, setting the stage for wider adoption across the country.

Read More | South Korea Just Kicked Smartphones Out of Class—Will Students Finally Look Up?

How Emergency Location Service Functions

ELS is built directly into Android and activates only when a user calls or sends an SMS to an emergency number such as 112. Once triggered, the phone pulls location data from GPS, Wi-Fi, and cellular networks to determine where the caller is, often narrowing it down to within 50 metres. The location is then shared with emergency responders in real time. This can be especially valuable in situations where callers are injured, disoriented, or unable to explain where they are — or when calls drop within seconds.

In Uttar Pradesh, the service has been integrated with the 112 emergency response system by the state police in collaboration with Pert Telecom Solutions. The service is free and remains inactive during normal phone use. Location tracking begins only when an emergency number is dialled.

Read More | Apple May Team Up with Google to Power Siri with Gemini AI

Built for Emergencies, Not Surveillance

Google says privacy safeguards are central to how ELS operates. Location data is sent directly from the user’s phone to emergency responders and is not collected or stored by Google. Access to this information is limited strictly to emergency service providers handling the call. The company notes that ELS on Android has already supported over 20 million emergency calls and messages globally, including cases where calls disconnect almost immediately. The system relies on Google’s Android Fused Location Provider, which uses machine learning to improve accuracy based on available signals.

Read More | Samsung’s ‘AI for All’: The Bold Plan Behind India’s Next Tech Leap

What Else Is Changing on Android Emergency Features

Alongside ELS, Google has also introduced Emergency Live Video for Android devices. The feature allows emergency responders to request a live camera feed during a call or SMS conversation. Users receive an on-screen prompt and can approve the request with a single tap. Until consent is given, no video is shared.