An intranet could be a secure environment walled off from the internet

Hard disagree. How can it be “walled off” from the internet if it’s not connected? Despite the jokes, cutting access on its own is not the same as air gapping or a firewall. As soon as it’s plugged in there are zero controls.

Technically they could claim it’s a backup

An unplanned, decentralized, public backup?

And it is not connected to the internet, the internet is connected to it (I’m not in here with you, you’re in here with me)