AWS outage shows internet users 'at mercy' of too few providers, experts say
13 hours ago
- #Tech Dependence
- #AWS Outage
- #Cloud Computing
- Amazon Web Services (AWS) experienced a major outage, affecting apps and websites globally.
- Affected platforms included Snapchat, Roblox, Signal, Duolingo, and Amazon-owned services like Ring.
- Over 2,000 companies worldwide reported issues, with millions of user complaints.
- UK services like Lloyds Bank, Halifax, and HMRC were impacted.
- Other affected platforms included Wordle, Coinbase, Slack, Pokémon Go, and PlayStation Network.
- AWS implemented request limits to aid recovery, but issues persisted.
- Experts warned of the risks of over-reliance on a few tech giants for cloud services.
- Calls for diversification in cloud computing to protect democratic discourse and critical infrastructure.
- The outage was caused by an internal AWS subsystem issue, not a cyber-attack.
- UK government is in contact with Amazon, questioning why AWS isn't designated a 'critical third party'.