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.

  • Bogasse@lemmy.mlEnglish
    4·
    8 hours ago

    I read an article yesterday that explains that it’s still a bit hard :

    • he can’t use his bank account in most foreign countries
    • he can’t use most online marketplaces (non american ones may use american databases), plus they probably make you checkout through Visa
    • he says he can’t have any credit card, this surprises me because I thought France had its own network “CB”, but I guess one card must interface with several systems (Visa, Mastercard, CB usually?)

    (French and paywalled, sorry) https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2025/11/19/nicolas-guillou-juge-francais-de-la-cpi-sanctionne-par-les-etats-unis-face-aux-attaques-les-magistrats-de-la-cour-tiendront_6654016_3210.html?search-type=classic&ise_click_rank=6

    • pousserapiere@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      8 hours ago

      Working for CPI he probably is living in the Netherlands, where there are no card-based alternatives to the usual emvco guys. Many shops accept only maestro cards (and vpay, sometimes)

      • comrade_twisty@feddit.orgEnglish
        1·
        4 hours ago

        I was on vacation in the Netherlands recently and the card acceptance at some stores that were not really catering to tourists was really confusing. I was at Albert Heijn twice where all my Swiss cards (including debit maestro) did not work at all, my Revolut card did not work either, only my US issued Capital One Visa card worked. Never had such issues anywhere else.

        I really hope Wero and Twint will work out interoperability and finally start covering all of Europe.

    • Bogasse@lemmy.mlEnglish
      4·
      8 hours ago

      Of course you can live with cash and relying on relatives when you really can find another solution. But this kind of intimidation on a judge is absolutely fucked up. (Right now it seems it is just a Monday in the USA, but in Europe we are not there yet)