What Caused the Recent AWS Outage Affecting Half the Internet?
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Synopsis
A major outage affecting Amazon Web Services has disrupted online services globally. Key platforms like ChatGPT, Alexa, and Fortnite faced issues, raising concerns about the reliability of cloud services. As Amazon investigates the cause, users await restoration of normal functionality.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon Web Services is experiencing a significant global outage.
- Key platforms like Alexa and ChatGPT are affected.
- Amazon is investigating the cause of increased error rates.
- Users have reported interruptions in service.
- Restoration of normal services is still pending.
New Delhi, Oct 20 (NationPress) Amazon Web Services is currently experiencing a significant outage that has impacted online services worldwide, encompassing AI platforms, e-commerce sites, popular websites, and online gaming.
Access to Amazon's virtual assistant technology Alexa, the social media application Snapchat, the online game Fortnite, the AI platform ChatGPT, Epic Games Store, and Epic Online Services has been disrupted.
Amazon Web Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Amazon, delivers on-demand cloud computing platforms and APIs to individuals, businesses, and governments on a metered, pay-as-you-go basis.
Amazon indicated it is “investigating increased error rates and latencies for multiple AWS services in the US-EAST-1 Region” and that numerous services are “impacted” by operational issues.
Users on the social media platform Reddit reported that the Alexa smart assistant is currently non-functional and unable to respond to queries or fulfill requests.
AWS-hosted platforms such as Perplexity, Airtable, Canva, and the McDonald’s app were also affected, according to user feedback.
The exact cause of the outage remains unconfirmed, and it is uncertain when services will return to normal.
Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas shared on the social media platform X, “Perplexity is down right now. The root cause is an AWS issue. We’re working on resolving it.”
This outage has knocked offline platforms such as Amazon, ChatGPT, Alexa, and numerous other applications.
The AWS dashboard first indicated issues in the US-EAST-1 Region at 3:11 AM Eastern Time (ET). “We are actively engaged and working to both mitigate the issue and understand the root cause. We will provide an update in 45 minutes, or sooner if we have additional information to share,” Amazon stated.
At 5:27 AM ET, Amazon announced “significant signs of recovery,” adding that “most requests should now be succeeding.” They continued to address a backlog of queued requests.
Previously, AWS outages in the US-EAST-1 region led to widespread disruptions in 2020, 2021, and 2023, resulting in prolonged downtimes for various sites and applications.
Point of View
It is paramount to recognize the implications of such outages on our digital infrastructure. While AWS plays a crucial role in many online services, this incident highlights the increasing dependency on cloud technology. The nation must address how such disruptions affect businesses and consumers alike, reinforcing the need for robust solutions.
NationPress
20/10/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the AWS outage?
The exact cause of the AWS outage is still under investigation, with Amazon reporting increased error rates and operational issues.
Which services were affected by the outage?
Numerous services were impacted, including Alexa, ChatGPT, Fortnite, and various cloud-hosted platforms.
When will services be restored?
Amazon has reported signs of recovery, but a definitive timeline for full restoration is still unclear.
How often do AWS outages occur?
AWS outages have occurred several times in the past, notably in 2020, 2021, and 2023, leading to widespread disruptions.
How can I stay updated on the AWS situation?
You can follow updates directly on Amazon's official channels and social media platforms for the latest information.
