New York: Europe and the Arabs

An international report has warned of the fragility of globally interconnected digital systems, calling for enhanced resilience to ensure the stability of digital infrastructure. It reviewed scenarios of risks—including submarine cable outages and satellite failures—that could lead to communication disruptions and potentially what has been described as a “digital pandemic.”

The report, titled “When Digital Systems Fail: The Hidden Risks of Our Digital World,” was issued by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), and the Institute of Political Studies. According to the UN Daily News, a copy of which we received via email, the report outlines multiple scenarios of potential risks on land, at sea, and in space, including solar storms, submarine cable outages, satellite failures, and extreme weather conditions, which could lead to widespread disruptions in communication networks and potentially what the report describes as a “digital pandemic.”

Experts who contributed to the report called for coordinated action among countries to strengthen the resilience of digital systems and protect essential services such as healthcare, financial services, and emergency response. ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin stated that "resilience must be built into the very core of the technologies we rely on," noting that the report urges a rethinking of how to protect the systems that connect and enable humanity.

For his part, Kamal Kishore, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction, warned that societies' increasing reliance on digital technology makes them vulnerable to disruptions that can have far-reaching effects across systems and borders. He emphasized the need to plan for digital infrastructure that takes systemic risks into account "now and in the future."

Risks of Digital Dependence
The report indicated that digital technologies have revolutionized how we live, communicate, and work, but have simultaneously created invisible risks. Severe solar storms can disrupt satellites and navigation systems and destabilize power grids, while extreme heat can cripple data centers and disrupt communications services, in addition to potentially impacting healthcare systems and financial transactions.

Earthquakes and other natural disasters can also sever vital internet connections, slowing down business operations and leaving entire countries offline for weeks. While these scenarios may seem disconnected or improbable, the report underscores that digital vulnerabilities are real and that unforeseen incidents are inevitable.

The report also highlights societies' increasing reliance on digital systems without preserving traditional skills or providing non-digital alternatives, which increases the fragility of systems in the event of failure.

"Addressing systemic risks means looking beyond data and working across disciplines," said Arancha González, Dean of the Paris School of International Affairs at Sciences Po. "This report shows how evidence-based policymaking can help us build resilience in an increasingly interconnected world."

Transforming Knowledge into Action
The report calls on policymakers, the private sector, and civil society to take urgent action to prevent these risks from becoming a "digital pandemic" through a global commitment and coordinated efforts.

The report proposes considering six key priorities for protecting critical digital infrastructure, including:

Deepening Knowledge: by identifying vulnerabilities, mapping interconnections, modeling potential cascade responses, and preserving traditional skills.

Updating Risk Management: Addressing unintended digital disruptions as a key risk by updating legal frameworks, disaster risk frameworks, and incentives.

Strengthening Standards and Planning: Establishing effective backup systems and conducting joint multi-sector scenario planning.

Improving Coordination on Critical Risks: Proactively coordinating high-impact risks affecting space weather, submarine cables, satellites, and data centers.
Building Community Resilience: Empowering communities and organizations to withstand and recover from digital disruptions by strengthening adaptive capacities.

Enhancing Trust and Collaboration: Building capacity, bringing stakeholders together, and fostering shared awareness and accountability across sectors and borders.

These outcomes are the result of a collaborative process involving experts from 12 countries, representing national authorities, the private sector, academia, and international organizations.