Amazon Web Services Outage Causes Global Internet Disruptions Before Gradual Recovery

A widespread internet outage on Monday morning, 20 October 2025, caused major disruptions across numerous online platforms and services. The source of the problem was identified as Amazon Web Services (AWS), one of the world’s leading cloud computing providers. The outage affected companies and platforms such as Amazon, Snapchat, Roblox, Fortnite, Coinbase, several UK banks including Lloyds and Halifax, and even government services like HMRC. The issue was traced to a DNS (Domain Name System) malfunction in AWS’s North Virginia data centers, one of the largest cloud hubs globally. This failure prevented websites and apps from connecting properly, similar to a postman losing address labels. The outage had ripple effects worldwide: airport check-ins at LaGuardia in New York were delayed, airline websites went down, and users were unable to access vital digital tools. AWS engineers reported ‘significant signs of recovery’ a few hours later, saying most requests were succeeding, though some backlogs remained. Experts advised users and businesses to pause automated workflows and be cautious of phishing attempts exploiting the disruption. Analysts also raised concerns about global dependence on U.S. tech giants for critical infrastructure, drawing parallels to the CrowdStrike outage in 2024 that caused economic damage across Europe. The incident highlights the fragility of centralized cloud systems and the need for diversified digital resilience.