{
  "id": 14443078,
  "title": "The Internet’s undersea backbone is slipping into the danger zone",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/the-internets-undersea-backbone-is-slipping-into-the-danger-zone",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-14T11:15:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ars Technica",
    "slug": "ars-technica",
    "url": "https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/10/the-internets-undersea-backbone-is-slipping-into-to-the-danger-zone/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The backbone of the internet, comprised of undersea cables spanning the ocean floors, continues to transport the majority of global communications. These vital connections share space with oil and gas pipelines and submarine power cables, all susceptible to increasing sabotage risks as conflicts grow both in gray zones and open warfare. Elisabeth Braw, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and leader of the Threats to the Global Maritime Order Initiative, highlights this issue in her book, \"Undersea War.\" The book delves into the surge in incidents involving ships dragging anchors for extended periods, leading to the cutting or damaging of undersea cables and pipelines ranging from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean. Braw recognizes that around 60% of these damages stem from human error during fishing and shipping activities, particularly when weighted nets or anchors come into contact with the seabed. Furthermore, natural phenomena like storms and undersea landslides contribute to a smaller percentage of such incidents. Annually, between 150 and 200 cables experience damage, which are typically swiftly repaired.",
  "summary": "Elisabeth Braw’s book Undersea War on rising risks for undersea infrastructure.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}