Facebook deploys ‘Safety Check’ feature for Orlando

Facebook activated its “Safety Check” feature on Sunday in response to the deadly shooting at an Orlando, Fla., nightclub.

It is reportedly the first time Facebook has used the feature in the United States.

{mosads}Safety Check is a feature that allows Facebook users in a certain geographical area to alert their friends that they are safe. It has been turned on for both natural disasters and terrorist attacks.

The company has activated it more frequently after being criticized for using it during terror attacks last year in Paris but not for similar events in other parts of the world.

“Many people have rightfully asked why we turned on Safety Check for Paris but not for bombings in Beirut and other places,” Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg at the time. “Until yesterday, our policy was only to activate Safety Check for natural disasters. We just changed this and now plan to activate Safety Check for more human disasters going forward as well.”

The attack in Orlando over the weekend claimed the lives of 50 people, including the gunman, according to reports. More were injured in what is the deadliest mass shooting even in the U.S.

Authorities said Omar Mateen pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria during his assault on the gay nightclub.

“Waking up this morning, I was deeply saddened to hear about the shooting in Orlando,” said Zuckerberg in a post. “My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and the LGBT community.”

He also urged people to give blood to help victims of the attack.