Stevie Bonifield is a news writer covering all things consumer tech. Stevie started out at Laptop Mag writing news and reviews on hardware, gaming, and AI.

A new feature coming to Android will allow users to get more support during emergencies by sharing a live video feed from their phone with 911 responders. For instance, if someone calls 911 for a medical emergency, the 911 responder can use the live video feed to walk the caller through CPR or first aid until paramedics arrive. Emergency Live Video is also helpful in situations where someone is lost, under high stress, or otherwise can’t clearly describe what’s going on.

During a 911 call, emergency responders can send a request for a live video, which the caller has to approve before any video is shared. The video feed is encrypted by default and the caller can choose to stop streaming at any time.

It mirrors a similar feature on iOS, Emergency SOS Live Video, which launched in 2024 and allows iPhone users to share either a live video feed or photos and videos from their Photos app.

According to Android Software Engineer Alastair Breeze, Emergency Live Video is “rolling out initially to RapidSOS, Motorola Solutions, and Prepared911 safety platforms in the US,” starting today. It requires an Android phone running Android 8 or later with Google Play services enabled.

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• Stevie Bonifield