TECH

Natural disasters and terrorist attacks: learn why the internet's backbone is at risk

Do you know where the internet comes from? If you answered satellites in space, you're wrong. Today, more than 95% of all internet data comes from about 500 submarine fiber optic cables, installed like 19th-century telegraph cables under the oceans. The problem is that this infrastructure faces increasing threats.

In an article published in Bloomberg, James Stavridis, a retired US Navy admiral, former Supreme Allied Commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and vice president of global affairs at the Carlyle Group, pointed out that the cables can be vulnerable to natural disasters, both at the bottom of the ocean, where earthquakes can disrupt them, and on the surface, where they connect to terrestrial infrastructure.

Other dangers, according to him, "are terrorists, anarchists, internet-hating Luddites, and other random agitators." “Although these actors may not be able to reach the submarine cables, they can attempt to disrupt connections at the waterline or use cyber tools to impair cable operations,” he wrote.

And that’s not all. Stavridis emphasized that what truly worries geopolitical planners is the ability of national actors—Russia, China, the United States, and many European powers—to use submarines or surface ships to attack the cables.

“This can be done as simply as dragging an anchor or a specially designed underwater tool over the cables, or through submarine attacks,” he indicated. “Such an operation could cause enormous disruption across the global internet, weaken transport networks, disrupt communications between nations, and harm national and regional defense.”

In the United States, a bipartisan bill to address this issue is under consideration in the Senate. This bill, according to Stavridis, requires a report to Congress within six months, specifically on Chinese and Russian sabotage efforts. It also provides for sanctions against foreign parties responsible for the attacks and mandates that the U.S. provide more resources for the protection and repair of cables.

“That’s a good starting point, but it’s far from sufficient given the scale of potential economic and military disruptions,” the retired admiral noted.

Regarding what the United States should do to lead a global effort to keep the internet safe from natural disasters, terrorism, and state attacks, he indicated, first and foremost, using the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to catalyze international action.

Another recommendation is the creation of an international military coalition. “The obvious fundamental alliance would be the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The transatlantic partnership has over a thousand large warships and routinely conducts training exercises and major operations,” Stavridis pointed out, adding that this coalition could also include navies from Japan, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, and other nations willing to participate.

Their third recommendation is to invest in technology, to be incorporated throughout the submarine cable ecosystem. The work could be funded by an international consortium of nations, the United Nations (UN), and through taxes paid by commercial entities.

Some measures to be considered include the use of advanced materials for better physical protection of fiber optic cables; the addition of many more backup cables, kept offline in secret locations and which can be activated when needed; improving the flow of large amounts of data to make cables unnecessary, perhaps through satellite-based systems; and reinforcing vulnerable points on land with larger security forces and more robust physical barriers.

“Finally, the initiative should include significant sanctions or retaliation against any nation, company, or terrorist group that attacks the cables. Both Russia and China have been accused, with credible grounds, of doing so—they should be warned that this will not be tolerated and that they will suffer economic sanctions. Any offensive actions by national actors should be widely publicized: with photos, videos, and documented information,” argued the author of the article.

He concluded: “Protecting the flow of data on submarine cables is crucial for the armed forces, businesses, and virtually all of us. The Senate bill is necessary, but it is far from sufficient. A broader international approach is essential.”

mundophone