From alerts to action | Meta helps UP Police save 1,024 lives in 2 years

The Uttar Pradesh Police’s innovative Meta Alert System, launched in collaboration with Meta (Facebook/Instagram) in 2023, is proving to be a lifesaver, literally. Since its inception, the tech-driven initiative has helped avert nearly one suicide per day by detecting distress signals from social media posts and triggering rapid police response.

In just over two years, the system has flagged almost 1,200 distress posts, saving 1,024 lives and counting via swift, tech-enabled police action.

The system operates through a meticulously co-ordinated process:

• AI Detection: Meta's algorithms scan for distress keywords like "suicide," "goodbye," or self-harm references in posts/searches.

• Instant Alert: Flagged content triggers immediate notification to UP Police's 24×7 Social Media Centre (SMC) at DGP headquarters.

• Rapid Response: Using telecom data, geotags, and visual clues (like landmarks or vehicle plates), teams pinpoint locations within 30-90 minutes.

• On-Ground Action: Local police and counsellors intervene, from crisis counselling to medical emergencies.

• Deoria (June 2025): Officers reached a student mid-attempt, after he posted a noose photo, rescuing him within 12 minutes of the alert.

• Lucknow (June 2024): A woman's Instagram post with pills and "Goodbye parents" triggered an 8-minute rescue effort, revealing family pressure over marriage.

• Chitrakoot (2023): A motorcycle license plate in a poison-drinking video helped police locate and hospitalise the victim within 30 minutes.

By the Numbers-

• 1,200+ alerts processed since 2023

• 70% intervention rate (840 cases requiring action)

• Fastest rescue: 4 minutes for a Lucknow hanging attempt

• 1,024 lives saved as of June 2025

The program goes beyond just intervention. "We partner with NGOs for long-term counselling", confirmed ADG Prashant Kumar. In the Devanandpur (Lucknow) case, police helped mediate the marriage issue, while in Deoria, the student received financial counselling.

DGP Prathmesh Kumar calls it a “force for social good”, with other states now studying UP’s model. While some alerts fall short due to unclear locations or switched-off phones, the impact is undeniable.

With a 92% success rate, the UP Police now plans to take this life-saving initiative even further. Next on the roadmap is to deploy AI to detect distress in regional dialects, forging stronger ties with mental health professionals for long-term support, and introducing predictive analytics to flag potential risks before they escalate. The aim is to create a safety net that catches people before they slip through.

The vision is bold, transforming social media from a silent bystander into a responsive, empathetic ally, where even the faintest cry for help triggers swift, human-centered intervention.