I have just half watched “Leave the World Behind” whilst catching up on emails.
Towards the end of the film, one of the characters talks about how his work with military contractors have shown him that the easiest way to cause chaos in any country would be in the form of a three-stage process leading first to a breakdown of social order and resulting in a coup d’état or civil war. Which got me wondering…
Picture this: you’re having a normal British day. You’ve just made a cuppa, muttered something unrepeatable about the latest taxes, and then the Wi-Fi cuts out. “Typical,” you sigh. But then the mobile signal goes too. The car’s GPS throws a wobbly. The news app won’t load. Even BBC Radio 4 drops off air (and you know it’s serious when Radio 4 is down). What’s going on?
Welcome to the first phase of what could be the perfect 21st-century takedown: no bombs, no bullets, just digital sabotage and psychological collapse. Inspired by “Leave the World Behind”, in theory, here’s how easily negative forces could bring the UK to its knees in three easy steps.
The UK, like most modern countries, is wired into the global internet grid via undersea fibre-optic cables, about 14 of them, to be exact. Sever a few of those, and suddenly we’re not texting, tweeting or tracking anything. Think about it, all internet-reliant systems shut down synchronously, no warning, no back up; banking systems, food distribution logistics, NHS scheduling, even your smart fridge won’t be able to tell you that you’re out of milk.
People can handle a few hours offline. But stretch that to days? Supermarkets will be emptied faster than a Greggs tray of hot flaky sausages rolls at lunch. Humorous aside: You think people were bad during the loo roll crisis of 2020? Wait until they can’t order their meal deals or binge watch “Big Brother”. Once everyone’s flapping around in the digital darkness, it’s time to turn the psychological screws.
In the film, false messages and deepfakes cause mass confusion. In the UK, this could play out spectacularly. Imagine fake broadcasts claiming the Prime Minister has fled to a bunker in Basingstoke, or that Wales has declared independence and closed the Severn Bridge. Without trusted news outlets or government channels, people start relying on the oldest form of communication: that one loud bloke in the pub; add a sprinkle of AI-generated fake videos and the public won’t know which way is up.
The final blow is elegant in its simplicity: make everything stop working. Knock out the GPS system (which guides ships, planes and lorries), jam the satellite signals, and you stop movement. The UK, being an island and a service-heavy economy, relies heavily on imports, just-in-time logistics, and functioning infrastructure. With ports paralysed and lorries lost on the A303, shelves empty, fuel dries up, and deliveries halt.
Meanwhile, the average Brit is left clutching a lukewarm teabag, shouting “Has anyone heard back from Sky yet?” into the void.
Without needing to invade or launch missiles, the UK becomes a nation of isolated households, hoarding teabags, Pot Noodles and fighting over AA batteries.
Fact? Sadly, yes. Cybersecurity experts, military analysts, and your average IT manager have all warned about these very risks. From the vulnerability of physical infrastructure (undersea cables, satellites) to the growing sophistication of AI-generated disinformation, this isn’t science fiction anymore; it’s contingency planning. The UK has made moves to strengthen resilience, but we’re still deeply reliant on tech that can, with enough will and a bit of malicious ingenuity, be unplugged.
The moral of the story? Don’t panic, but maybe don’t laugh it off either. “Leave the World Behind” might be fiction, but it’s the sort of fiction that makes you check your emergency stash of torch batteries and water sterilising tablets.
And in the spirit of British pragmatism:
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Keep a few cans of beans handy and don’t forget the sauce.
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Learn to read a paper map. (PS: Aren’t you glad you still have that bike you haven’t ridden for 20 years in the shed !)
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Befriend your neighbours , especially the ones who have been growing veg and have solar panels.
Earlier this year, the electricity was off for about 4 hours; it wasn’t great and a reminder how much we rely on services beyond our control. In our government we have to trust…
Photo by Brett Jordan
