Streaming services, messaging platforms offline for hours by AWS outage, exposing dependence on internet

Popular internet services ranging from streaming platforms to messaging services to banking were offline for hours Monday due to an outage in Amazon‘s crucial cloud network, illustrating the extent to which internet life depends on the tech titan.

The disruption affected streaming platforms, including Amazon’s Prime Video service and Disney+, as well as Perplexity AI, the Fortnite game, Airbnb, Snapchat and Duolingo.

Mobile telephone services and messaging apps Signal and WhatsApp were affected in Europe, according to Downdetector.

People also reported…