Global Microsoft outage disrupts workers in 70 countries

A global Microsoft Outlook outage is disrupting workers in over 70 countries, forcing many to resort to outdated methods like fax machines and manual processes to continue business operations. Major firms, including BNP Paribas, have defaulted to manual trading processes, while Japan is using fax machines as backup. The outage has also disrupted rail ticket delivery, NHS patient referrals, and house sale completions, with Microsoft reporting gradual recovery but warning of intermittent issues. Experts are calling the incident a warning about society's heavy reliance on online systems, urging government oversight and regulation to prevent future widespread disruptions. The outage has sparked memes and been dubbed the "Great Microsoft Outage of 2026."