Dan Brown’s Latest Audiobook Accidentally Calls 911

When Fiction Meets Reality: Audiobook Triggers Real 911 Calls

An unexpected twist worthy of a Dan Brown thriller: the audiobook version of The Secret of Secrets has been triggering emergency calls on Apple devices, causing embarrassment for listeners and a swift response from Audible.

The Incident That Caught Everyone Off Guard

Reddit user argusarms shared a cautionary tale that quickly went viral on the r/audible community. While listening to Dan Brown’s latest thriller in their car, the audiobook narrator spoke the fateful words: “Siri, call 911!” The result? Their Apple Watch immediately placed an actual emergency call.

“I blamed Dan Brown, but it was a bit embarrassing,” the user admitted. The 911 operator found the situation amusing but still followed protocol, asking multiple times to verify everything was okay.

Why This Happened

The issue stems from how voice assistants like Siri respond to wake commands in their environment. Unlike Amazon’s Alexa commercials, which use audio frequency modifications to prevent activation, regular audiobook narration contains no such safeguards. When the narrator’s voice was close enough to trigger Siri’s voice recognition tolerance, the device couldn’t distinguish between a real command and dialogue from the book.

Several users reported similar experiences, with one commenter noting they accidentally triggered their own emergency call while simply telling their spouse about the Reddit post.

Audible’s Lightning-Fast Response

What impressed the audiobook community most was Audible’s remarkably quick action. Within hours of the post gaining traction, Audible’s official support account responded directly on Reddit:

“This has been corrected! If you’ve downloaded this title already, please delete and redownload. Thank you!”

The swift resolution earned widespread praise, with one user commenting: “Man, u/Audible_Support on Reddit is on point. Whoever they have assigned to that account are the most engaged and helpful customer service people imaginable.”

A 911 Dispatcher’s Perspective

One particularly insightful comment came from an actual 911 dispatcher, who thanked the original poster for two crucial things: staying on the line to verify it was an accidental call, and bringing the issue to Audible’s attention to prevent future false alarms.

The dispatcher explained that while most accidental 911 calls are pocket dials, operators take every call seriously. They’re trained to recognize potential duress situations where callers might not be able to speak freely, making verification protocols essential even for obvious mistakes.

Tips to Prevent Voice Assistant Mishaps

The incident sparked helpful discussions about managing voice assistants while enjoying audiobooks:

• Change your wake word: Amazon Alexa users can switch from “Alexa” to alternatives like “Echo,” “Computer,” or “Ziggy” to avoid accidental activations
• Temporarily disable voice activation: On iPhone, you can turn off “Hey Siri” in settings while listening to audiobooks
• Be aware of character names: Several commenters mentioned ongoing issues with books featuring characters named Siri or Alexa
• Know the cancel command: If Siri does start calling 911, shouting “No, no, no!” will cancel the call

The Humorous Side

Despite the potential for serious consequences, the audiobook community found plenty of humor in the situation. Comments ranged from comparisons to the infamous “Xbox turn off” trolling era in online gaming, to jokes about the “bad book” being in the room with the caller.

One user quipped: “Ironically has the workings of a Dan Brown esque plot device,” while another suggested this was actually a clever Dan Brown publicity stunt.

A Broader Pattern

This isn’t the first time media content has triggered smart devices. South Park famously created an episode specifically designed to activate Amazon Alexa devices, and various TV commercials have accidentally triggered viewers’ assistants over the years. The issue highlights the ongoing challenges of integrating voice-activated technology into our daily lives.

The Bottom Line

If you’ve already downloaded The Secret of Secrets, Audible recommends deleting and re-downloading the title to get the corrected version. The quick fix demonstrates how responsive digital platforms can be when users report issues promptly.

For those yet to start the audiobook, you can now listen without fear of summoning emergency services – though you might want to double-check your device’s voice assistant settings just to be safe.

Source: Reddit – r/audible