"The bugs were related to Apple deprecating network kernel extensions (NKEs) in Big Sur and introducing a new system called Network Extension Framework, and Apple engineers not having enough time to iron out all the bugs before the Big Sur launch last fall."
Normally if there's no internet Gatekeeper instead checks the "stapled" notarization ticket from the notarization process. But since there is internet, and the ocsp server is technically "up" gatekeeper isn't checking the tickets.