Google is rolling out a new Emergency Live Video feature on Android that lets 911 and other emergency dispatchers request a secure live video stream from a caller’s phone to better understand what is happening in real time. This aims to improve response during car crashes, medical crises, and fast-moving disasters where every second and every detail matters.
How Emergency Live Video works
During an emergency call or text, the dispatcher can send a secure video request if seeing the situation would be useful and safe. The caller then receives an on-screen prompt and can start streaming live video from the phone’s camera with a single tap, giving responders a visual view of the scene.
The stream is encrypted end to end, and the user stays in full control of sharing at all times. They can stop the video instantly, and no prior setup or special app configuration is required beyond having an eligible Android device with Google Play Services.
Privacy, control, and safety
Google says Emergency Live Video is designed with privacy and safety as core principles, so video is only shared if the user explicitly accepts the dispatcher’s request. The feed is intended solely to help responders triage the emergency, guide quick decisions, and talk callers through critical steps like CPR while help is on the way.
Because the dispatcher decides when to request video, the feature is not always on and does not automatically record or stream from the camera. This approach is meant to balance powerful real-time assistance with user consent and data protection.
Integration with Android safety features
Emergency Live Video builds on Android’s existing safety stack, including Emergency Location Service, which shares a more precise location with emergency services from supported networks. It also complements Car Crash Detection and Fall Detection on supported devices, which can trigger emergency workflows automatically when serious incidents are detected.
In addition, the feature aligns with Google’s broader push into emergency connectivity, such as Satellite SOS support and upcoming satellite-based emergency messaging expected with devices like the Pixel 9 series using Samsung’s Modem 5400 and Android’s native satellite implementation. This ecosystem approach aims to keep users connected to help even when cellular networks are weak or unavailable.
Availability and device requirements
Emergency Live Video began rolling out on December 10 in the United States, selected regions in Germany, and Mexico. The feature works on Android phones running Android 8 or higher with Google Play Services, though availability also depends on local public safety partners adopting the technology.
Google is working with emergency service organizations worldwide and has published technical partner documentation to help agencies integrate the feature into their existing dispatch systems. More countries and regions are expected to gain support over time as partnerships expand and infrastructure is updated.
FAQ: Emergency Live Video on Android
1. Do I need to install anything to use Emergency Live Video?
No. If your phone runs Android 8 or above with Google Play Services and you are in a supported region, the feature works automatically during eligible emergency calls or texts when a dispatcher sends a video request.
2. Can emergency services turn on my camera without permission?
No. Dispatchers can only send a request; you must explicitly tap to start streaming, and you can stop the video at any time.
3. Will my Emergency Live Video be recorded or stored?
Google states the feature is built for secure, real-time viewing by responders, and the stream is encrypted; any storage or recording policies depend on local emergency service agencies and their regulations.
4. Where is Emergency Live Video available today?
It is rolling out first in the U.S., select parts of Germany, and Mexico, with more regions to follow as public safety partners integrate the capability.
5. How does this relate to Satellite SOS and upcoming Pixel features?
Emergency Live Video works over existing connectivity, while Satellite SOS and upcoming satellite-enabled devices like the expected Pixel 9 with Samsung’s Modem 5400 are designed to keep emergency communication possible even without regular mobile coverage, creating a more robust safety ecosystem.