While testing their emergency alert system, the University of Illinois sent out an erroneous alert to 87,000 devices. The vaguely worded alert read:

“Active shooter at BUILDING NAME/INTERSECTION. Escape area if safe to do so or shield/secure your location.”

The biggest problem here is their 12 minute delay in sending a follow-up, but another issue is the unspecified location. Thanks to that, everyone who got the alert had the thrill of being terrified, no matter where they were.

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