Nicolas Guillou has been sanctioned by the USA as a judge of the International Criminal Court. He notices the effects primarily in the digital realm.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/55550318

The extent of dependence on the USA in the digital sector is currently being experienced by a French judge. Nicolas Guillou, one of six judges and three prosecutors of the International Criminal Court (ICC), was sanctioned by the USA in August. He described his current situation as a digital time travel back to the 1990s, before the internet age, in a recent interview.

The reason for the US sanctions are the arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. They were indicted for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the context of the destruction of the Gaza Strip. The USA condemned this decision by the court, whereupon the US Treasury Department sanctioned six judges and three prosecutors.

Digitally excluded from almost everything In Guillou’s daily life, this means that he is excluded from digital life and much of what is considered standard today, he told the French newspaper Le Monde. All his accounts with US companies such as Amazon, Airbnb, or PayPal were immediately closed by the providers. Online bookings, such as through Expedia, are immediately canceled, even if they concern hotels in France. Participation in e-commerce is also practically no longer possible for him, as US companies always play a role in one way or another, and they are strictly forbidden to enter into any trade relationship with sanctioned individuals.

  • bryndos@fedia.io
    3·
    7 hours ago

    I can’t access this article so I don’t know if he explains whether not having these services makes his lifestyle better or worse.

    Personally I enjoy the challenge of trying my best not to use those services. Amazon, Airbnb, or PayPal, expedia(??? idk what that is - I think I’ve seen it advertised).

    I just try to use bricks and mortar, or contact people directly, or use their own website (though i guess the payment processing thing may limit that).

    Sometimes having a constraint like that forces you to adapt and stop your inner lazy-slob from becoming one of your enemies.

    I remember when my flat used to get burgled regularly, we’d lose all the games consoles and laptops and stuff, and have to go out to find entertainment of an evening. It was pretty cool.

    But there may be more too it than what the synopsis makes out.

    Digitally excluded from almost everything Surely he still has access to shitposts and memes and wikipedia. That is almost everything. /j