They’re also a reminder of the hidden infrastructure and communications that will be unseen and unheard by the world but is at the ready to handle this continge

They’re also a reminder of the hidden infrastructure and communications that will be unseen and unheard by the world but is at the ready to handle this contingency. You then consider that this infrastructure (ie the googles) has been duplicated by at least two other world superpowers, with each having had a slightly different variations on implementation which inherently reflects the values of the nation.