App: 999Eye
Emergency Smartphone live Stream project 999eye is being developed by West Midlands Fire Service.
999Eye has a number of UK services signed up to join us in a UK pilot currently aiming at Jan 2015. They have demonstrated the first release of the software (recently on the CCRSummit 2014 in The Netherlands), to demonstrate the concept and capabilites. The service can send a link to a smartphone during calls and then see the callers view of the location they are reporting.
They don’t use this feature on all calls and would only use it with the consent of the caller and once we have already mobilised an emergency response to the call.
999Eye drafted a full privacy impact assessment to ensure satisfaction of the requirements of the legislation emergency services are committed to comply with. 999Eye ensures to protect the rights of members of the public that wish to stream footage to aid the response and information for responders on the way to assist.
You can follow 999Eye on twitter @999eye1 @westmidsfire, @bluelighthinkin (or “&”) for regular updates on this and other projects. 999Eye has already presented the project at the Emergency Services Show.
Sources: 999Eye blog
Questions about this article
What is 999Eye?
999Eye is an emergency smartphone live-streaming project developed by West Midlands Fire Service. It lets people who call the emergency services stream video of what they see to the control room.
How does 999Eye work?
During a call, the service sends a link to the caller’s smartphone. Once the caller opens it, the operator can see the caller’s view of the location being reported.
Is 999Eye used on every emergency call?
No. According to the article it is only used with the caller’s consent and once an emergency response has already been mobilised. A full privacy impact assessment was drafted for the service.
Questions and answers added in 2026, based on the article above.