GB News star Neil Oliver says there are serious questions surrounding the stability of the “entire global network” after a mass IT outage prompted widespread disruption.
The major outage has affected airports across the UK, including in Edinburgh, Stansted, Gatwick and Manchester.
Speaking to Ben Leo and Nana Akua, Neil said our dependence on technology has been thrown into question, suggesting it may not be so wise to “put all our eggs in one basket”.
“It points to that strange paradox in the extent to which we are all dependent on technology”, he said.
Neil Oliver is one of many Britons to have found their plans scuppered as a result of a global IT outage
PA / GB NEWS
“But clearly, it doesn’t take too much to throw all of that into complete confusion.
“It does beg the question, just where are we with the stability with the entire network in which we all depend? I’m sure some are suggesting someone has hacked the system somewhere.
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Neil Oliver joined Ben Leo and Nana Akua on GB News
GB NEWS
“I’m sure people are speculating. One is left wondering, just how wise we are to put all our eggs in one basket if at the flick of a switch, this kind of international chaos can ensue.”
The GB News star was one of thousands across Britain who have found themselves affected by the global outage, with his flight to London cancelled as a result.
Neil said his ability to host The Neil Oliver Show has been thrown into question, and he is seeking alternative avenues to the capital.
“I knew there was something wrong here, I found out about half seven this morning, the queue just to get into the airport was stretching away into the distance”, Neil said about his race against time.
Sky News’ TV broadcasts have been scuppered by the IT outageSky News“Once I was able to get through security and departures, I found out my flight into London was cancelled. Then I started hearing all sorts of gossip about a tech outage across the world.
“It’s obviously packed here. There’s all sorts of cancellations all over the place. I am just going to have to pick up the pieces and see if it’s possible at all to get south today.”
Neil, an outspoken advocate of the importance of cash, said today’s dramatic events further pinpoint the dangers of moving to a cashless society.
“People were instantly talking about their banks not working”, he said.
“Obviously in a situation like this, people are trying to make financial transactions. Anything that affects people’s ability to transact is enormously significant.
“When something like this goes down, it takes everything with it. There is all sorts of conflicting information at the moment.”
Cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike has spoken out on the outage, saying it is “actively working” to fix a “defect” in an update for Microsoft Windows users which sparked the issue.