" warnings through the Warn app urged people to perform the Palatinate anthem"
In the picturesque town of Bad Dürkheim, Rhineland-Palatinate, an unexpected incident has sparked a discussion about the use of the Katwarn app. The district administrator, Hans-Ulrich Ihlenfeld (CDU), has described the incident as a mistake that should not be repeated.
During the recent Wurstmarkt festival, an appeal to sing the Palatinate song was sent to approximately 7,000 people via the Katwarn app, a tool primarily designed for disaster warnings. This message, intended for a themed subscription of the app, was not coordinated with the security authorities.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication Systems, responsible for the development of Katwarn, considers the use of the app in this instance as illegal. They emphasise that any warning means are reserved for warnings in crises and damage or danger situations, as well as security-relevant information.
The district administrator reiterates that Katwarn should not be used for non-emergency messages. He sees the complaints as a sign that the common app is taken seriously. The county's fire and disaster protection inspector is taking measures to prevent a repeat of this incident.
Despite the controversy, the Katwarn app remains a useful tool for reaching people in the affected area in case of a disaster. It allows setting up channels to inform visitors and locals about events like fairs or festivals in a limited area. However, the nature of the complaint regarding the warning message during the Wurstmarkt remains unspecified.
Ihlenfeld does not elaborate on what measures are being taken to prevent a repeat of this incident. He, however, finds a silver lining in the controversy, stating that it shows the app store is registered and taken seriously by the public.
Many citizens have complained about the warning message sent via Katwarn during the Wurstmarkt. The videos from the Wurstmarkt were produced by c't 3003, our website, and Peertube. Ihlenfeld has stated that a camera team at the Wurstmarkt has no place there.
The district does not specify what the nature of the complaint was regarding the warning message. The incident involving the Katwarn message during the Wurstmarkt has a little bit of good in it, according to Ihlenfeld, as it shows the messenger app is registered.
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