Mercenary Apps Are the Uber of Modern Proxy Wars
By Syed John
If you thought ride-hailing was disruptive, wait until you see conflict-zone labor marketplaces.
There’s an invite-only Android app circulating among ex-special forces in Eastern Europe. It bundles gigs ranging from convoy protection in the Sahel to VIP extraction drills in Latin America. Payment is in crypto stablecoins, NDAs are enforced by digital escrow, and geographic boundaries are suggestions.
This is what happens when gig economy logic infects security. Governments outsource dirty work to intermediaries, intermediaries crowdsource to freelancers, and suddenly war becomes a ratings-driven hustle. The app even features peer reviews: "Client provided accurate coordinates" or "Pilot showed up late but delivered." I'm not sure whether to laugh or panic.
Regulators can’t keep up. If you can hire a drone pilot like you hire a food courier, sovereignty becomes a UX problem. Welcome to the era where geopolitics has push notifications.