NEW DELHI, Feb. 24 -- Amidst this vast web of networks-albeit a network of networks-if a few websites go offline, the world won't be significantly affected. After all, if a few are taken down, they are almost instantly replaced by others, often within seconds. However, on the first day of February, one website was abruptly taken offline without fanfare, perhaps under the assumption that it wouldn't attract much attention.

The organisation's account on "X" (formerly known as Twitter) was also deleted. Yet, the event made headlines. The website belonged to USAID (the US Agency for International Development), an independent entity established by then-President John F. Kennedy in 1961 to assist conflict-ridden and strategically important nat...