Our lives are so intertwined with the internet that a collapse could quickly lead to chaos. Traffic signals fail, emergency services are incapacitated, and commerce grinds to a halt – a scenario vividly illustrated by recent power cuts across Spain and Portugal. But while governments seem to lack robust plans to deal with such internet outages, a group of dedicated volunteers is drawing up their own strategies to reboot the network in the event of a disaster.
The Fragility of Our Digital World
Societies are vulnerable, Lenin famously said, when separated from their next meal by only three square miles. In the modern world, that dividing line is a Wi-Fi signal. Our dependence on computers and the internet means that when these systems fail, they do so with alarming speed.
This vulnerability became apparent during recent power cuts in Spain and Portugal, where traffic signals went dark, roads became clogged, and emergency services struggled to respond. Telecom networks in Morocco and Greenland were also affected, highlighting the interconnectedness and fragility of modern infrastructure.
Concerns about the lack of official plans to address catastrophic internet outages have driven Valerie Aurora, a renowned figure in the tech world, and about a dozen cybersecurity experts, hackers, radio hobbyists, and lawyers to form the Internet Resiliency Club (IRC).
The Internet Resiliency Club
Inspired by stories from colleagues in Ukraine about the resourcefulness needed to keep systems online amidst cyber and physical attacks from Russia, the IRC’s 150 volunteers are developing plans to restore a broken internet.
“My nightmare is that something goes wrong and I just can’t contact anyone,” says Aurora. “I’d like to be part of helping get things running again.”
The internet is humanity’s most complex, fragile, and vital creation. It’s crucial for global banking, military operations, phone networks, and even utilities like water and electricity. Yet, this vital tool is increasingly threatened by climate change, political instability, cyberattacks, and even solar storms.
Thinking Small: Rebuilding Local Networks
The IRC’s approach is to start small. While the internet is a global network, its capacity to connect businesses and people within a city is crucial. Their initial focus is to build a local service in Amsterdam, enabling utility companies and other vital services to resume operations.
“It’s the bootstrap problem,” explains Aurora. “How do you get a connection back when you have no connection and everybody who can fix it has no plan, doesn’s know where to meet, doesn’s know where to go?”
The Meshtastic Solution
The IRC team is exploring various technologies to overcome this challenge. One promising avenue is Meshtastic, a volunteer-run project that uses unlicensed radio spectrum to send short text messages and data snippets.
These devices, which require minimal energy and can be powered by small solar panels, can form a mesh network across a city. This allows information to travel between devices, even when traditional internet services are unavailable. While not suitable for video calls, they can be enough to convey essential information in an emergency.
Testing the Limits
The IRC volunteers are stress-testing Meshtastic technology to see if it meets their expectations. However, they’re discovering limitations. While manufacturers claim a range of up to 10 kilometers, testing in urban environments reveals a much shorter range – closer to a few hundred meters. To operate effectively in a city like Amsterdam, hundreds of devices would need to be installed, posing challenges due to planning regulations and the need for permissions on historic buildings.
A Community Effort
The IRC’s efforts are designed to encourage experts worldwide to form similar local groups, creating a more resilient and interconnected network. While it’s uncertain if their plans will ever be needed, the IRC volunteers are driven by a concern that governments may be neglecting the issue or prioritizing security over accessibility.
A Growing Concern
A recent encounter with government officials and hardware-makers regarding the European Union’s Cyber Resilience Act highlighted a concerning trend: even attempts to strengthen internet security are met with resistance. The IRC volunteers remain committed to their mission, driven by a belief that a more resilient and decentralized internet is essential for our future
