In an effort to help reduce emergency response times, iPhone users in the US will now be able to automatically share their location with emergency services when they call 911. The update will be rolled out with iOS 12 later this year
“Communities rely on 911 centers in an emergency, and we believe they should have the best available technology at their disposal,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “When every moment counts, these tools will help first responders reach our customers when they most need assistance.”
Of course, Apple will stick to its focus on user privacy and none of the date will be shared for any non-emergency purpose. Only the responding 911 center will have access to the user’s location during an emergency call.
It’s currently unclear if this feature will ever be rolled out outside of the US.