AMBER Alerts Pop Up Beyond the U.S.

Police in the Netherlands are now equipped to generate AMBER Alerts nationwide, sending messages to a variety of devices, including personal computers with RSS feeds, e-mail, instant messages or screen pop-ups; and to cellular phones as SMS messages or e-mail. The alerts can also be displayed on outdoor advertising signs and through the media. The network was created using software from Netpresenter B.V., a company based in the Netherlands, and police use similar criteria to the United States when judging which incidents to broadcast on the system: under 18 years-old, and with a direct endangerment to the child’s life or a fear for grave injury. Check the network’s Web site.