Barcelona planning 'panic button' app with real-time police tracking to boost public safety

The Barcelona area government (AMB) is developing an app that will allow users to click a “panic button” if they feel threatened, La Vanguardia newspaper first reported and the Catalan News Agency confirmed on Tuesday.

The app will enable users to instantly alert authorities. Their location will be automatically shared via geolocation, and police will be notified immediately.

Another planned feature is the automatic activation of nearby security cameras — both public and private, such as those on streets or in shops — when the panic button is triggered.

The app will also enable local authorities to send users alerts about risks, traffic jams, protests, and road closures.

Although still in its early stages, the project has already been approved by the AMB. A public tender is expected before the summer, with the app planned for release by 2026.

The initiative is likely to spark debate over privacy and the use of personal data, and it will need to comply strictly with legal and data protection regulations to move forward.

The app would be rolled out across all municipalities within the AMB, which includes Barcelona and 35 surrounding towns.

In fact, the city of Cornellà is leading the initiative. Its mayor and AMB vice president, Antonio Balmón, has already introduced a similar app in the town, based on the M7 Citizen Security project developed by Cornellà-based company Einsmer.