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Global Internet Chaos As Amazon Web Services Goes Down

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Source: Pop Base on X {https://x.com/PopBase/status/1980191498030522640/photo/1}

When the world’s largest cloud service sneezes, the internet catches a cold. That’s exactly what happened on Monday when Amazon Web Services (AWS) suffered a global outage that disrupted major websites, apps, and online platforms across continents.

A Digital Domino Effect

From the United States to Europe, millions of users found themselves unable to log in, stream, or even send messages. AWS confirmed that “increased error rates” had been detected across multiple systems, affecting platforms like Amazon Prime, Fortnite, Snapchat, Duolingo, Perplexity AI, and Alexa.

But the ripple effects didn’t stop there. In Europe, several mobile networks, UK banks, and popular apps like WhatsApp and Tinder also went offline temporarily, according to outage tracker Downdetector. Even global airlines like Delta Air Lines were caught in the chaos, highlighting just how deeply the digital world depends on AWS’s infrastructure.

What Went Wrong

AWS later said the issue stemmed from a failure in its US-East-1 region a key data hub in Virginia that powers much of the internet’s backbone. Engineers began noticing disruptions shortly after 9am South African time, with recovery only showing progress about two hours later.

While the outage was brief, its global reach was staggering. It served as a reminder that a single point of failure can disrupt not just entertainment platforms but also financial systems, communications tools, and essential digital services.

Public Reaction: “The Internet’s Gone Offline!”

Across social media, users flooded platforms like X and Threads to vent their frustration and confusion. Some joked that “the internet broke again,” while others pointed out the irony that even AI tools like Perplexity went dark when the very servers hosting them went offline.

Businesses reliant on AWS for daily operations reported brief downtime and slow recovery. In a hyperconnected economy, even a few minutes of lost access can translate into massive losses particularly for streaming platforms, online retailers, and financial services.

Why This Matters

Amazon Web Services powers much of the global digital infrastructure hosting everything from small startups to tech giants. Monday’s outage once again highlighted the fragility of centralized cloud systems and the growing debate over cloud dependency.

Tech analysts say the incident could renew conversations about redundancy, decentralization, and the risks of digital monopoly, especially as governments and corporations increasingly move their operations online.

{Source:EWN}

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