#9

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0807-amber-alert-20130807,0,3825126.story

DiMaggio is suspected of having killed Hannah/Ethan Anderson's mother then abducting her two children. All throughout California, citizens received an Amber Alert that notified them of the abduction and described the car and where it was supposedly headed. It was the first time California used the Amber Alert system, which is nationally administered by the FEMA.
Although I was initially upset that the author seemed to be more interested in the Amber Alert than the news story, I understand that his focus was originally intended toward the Alert itself.
The Amber alert has mixed reviews. For some reason, the author mostly focused on the negativism of the Alert. There are some staunch critics, such as Joe Curren, who went so far as to state that it is one of the most "unintelligent, histrionic, intrusive programs ever." I understand that the Alert could be disruptive, but it is insensitive to family members and friends of the Andersons. Anything that could lead the police to rescue the two children should be implemented. 
Of course, there is room for improvement, and the police should work to fix any systematic glitches. They should send out the text message to their own discretion and only contact the appropriate areas. At the same time, it is amazing that this technology is capable of reaching 97% of the population. The fact that most people own cell phones today should be used to the advantage of the greater whole. It is brilliant that authorities have thought of "harnessing" the large statistics of cell phone usage to inform the whole population. 
Overall, I think the Amber Alert does more good than harm, and is an excellent example of using technology for the betterment of society.