A new clue buried in Google Play Services indicates Pixel phones might soon allow callers to share live video with 911 and other emergency dispatchers, a function already available for iPhone users through the Apple Emergency SOS Live Video feature in iOS 18. If it does ship, the feature would  represent a significant step in Android’s safety toolkit beyond simply recording after an incident towards real-time situational awareness.
What the teardown reveals
Strings found in Google Play Services version 25.35.34 beta describe a consent flow for “Sharing live video” with emergency services, adding that responders may be able to record the feed along with start and stop prompts for sharing feed snippets.
The feature appears to be under if anything is an internal “thunderbird” name, which lines up with Google hiding works-in-progress behind codenames.
And because the logic exists in Play Services rather than a system app, Google could roll it out widely without requiring a full OS upgrade. That’s not to say that APK teardowns are painted in stone — they’re more a peek at the development process than anything else. Features are frequently evolving, and what we describe below may or may not end up in your browser.
How Pixel safety works right now
Pixel phones are already one of the most feature-packed safety suites on Android. Car Crash Detection listens for motion sensors and acoustics to get you help if you don’t answer. Safety Check can also set up welfare check-ins, and Crisis Alerts will push important information during local emergencies.
Crucially, Pixels have an emergency video feature which triggers a recording of up to 45 minutes and auto-shares a downloadable link with the contacts you select to receive it once you stop filming. It’s intended for evidence preservation and individual notification, not dispatcher viewing. A live-stream function would bridge that gap, providing operators with instant eyes on the scene.
Apple set the blueprint
The new Emergency SOS Live Video in iOS 18 allows dispatchers to request a live stream or photos of you from the caller. The video isn’t saved in the device, and it’s not within control of the emergency center. That model is consistent with what public safety organizations like NENA and APCO recommend — mainly, promotion of agency-driven consent workflows that tie into Next Generation 911 systems.
Field reports from emergency technology vendors suggest that video could hone triage and hasten response, especially for medical incidents, fires and threats in flux. The flip side is workload: Call-takers need to be trained to interpret video, and the centers require secure infrastructure that allows low-latency ingest and recording policies.
Pixel-only or Android-wide?
The fact that it’s in Play Services raises the question of whether there will be broader Android support, but Google’s history points to a stair-stepped path. Other features rolled out as Pixel exclusives because they depend on hardware that’s only available for the Pixel, such as dedicated sensors and machine learning-based models or carrier partnerships, and then was brought to more devices over time. Live streaming could be the same, launching on Pixels where Google controls the experience from end to end.
More widespread rollout depends on more than simply the phone hardware. Emergency centers must receive video, and carriers have to be able to route calls with correct location information and adequate bandwidth. Those in areas where NG911 or something equivalent “next-gen” infrastructure is being built out will have a better shot; for everyone else, Android could fall back to traditional voice and text with location sharing info.
Privacy, consent, and reliability
A live emergency feed comes into contact with sensitive data. The teardown suggests explicit opt-in prompts and a visible stop button. Look for in-transit encryption, tight recording rules under the agency’s control and clear markers when the camera is enabled — that complies with safety industry best practices as well as Android privacy design.
Reliability is equally critical. Streaming is bandwidth-intensive, and crises tend to happen in clogged networks or low-signal conditions. A well designed application should degrade nicely to low resolution, infrequent snapshots or even text. Google has also been working on satellite-messaging support for Android, though that’s not specifically related to high-bitrate video; such groundwork might yet serve as a solid fallback if coverage crumbles under the burden of an SOS call.
What to watch
If Google is working on a launch, look to see where they’re flagging it: In the Safety app? New permissions based around emergency services? Or partnership announcements with carrier or public safety partners from groups like RapidSOS or state 911 authorities.
It would also make sense to use a Pixel Feature Drop as the distribution vehicle for its expanded launch after agencies are ready.
Bottom line: If Google brings dispatcher-requested live video to Pixel, it would shift Android’s anecdotal emergency story from documentation after the fact to real-time aid.
The technology is in reach; the real question will be policy, training and infrastructure to make sure the feature supports first responders without eroding privacy or reliability.