Amazon‌ ‌Server‌ ‌Outage‌ ‌Causes‌ ‌Problems‌ ‌Across‌ ‌Numerous‌ ‌Platforms‌

The outage began around 11 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday.

Taking Down Half of the Internet

Down Detector reported 11,000+ outages for AWS-run sites. 

The issues affected:

• Ring 
• Prime Music
• Alexa
• Kindle e-books
• Chime services
• Business websites

Reports also show problems with the streaming services Netflix and Disney+, as well as games like League of Legends, PUBG, and Valorant. In addition, owners of Ring and Wyze security cameras encountered difficulties, too. 

Google, Venmo, McDonald's, TicketMaster, and My Social Security also experienced outages.

Richard Rocha, an Amazon spokesperson, confirmed the issue: "There is an AWS service event in the US-East Region (Virginia) affecting Amazon Operations and other customers with resources running from this region.”

The problem with APIs in the US-EAST-1 Region was announced on AWS’s Service Health Dashboard at 9:37 am PST. At 4:35 pm PST the network device issues were resolved and Amazon turned its focus on impaired services.

Making the Most of an Unfortunate Situation

Amazon workers and some Twitter users, however, faced the situation with a sprinkle of humor.

For example, drivers organized a karaoke, as they were unable to make deliveries.

I’m an Amazon driver and the outage is also hitting us and we can’t make deliveries, so we’re just playing karaoke pic.twitter.com/QoLR8wZKhC

— Kool Sweety (@Kool992704) December 7, 2021

Furthermore, some made fun of their own dependence on technology. 

Had to get up and dismiss my alarm on Alexa with my actual hand. LIKE A PEASANT! #AmazonOutage

— Sarah Kimmel (@FamilyTech) December 8, 2021