pauloba - DECT 78411d ago
Frank 🍁⚜️

A few months ago, a Canadian judge got her #amazon , #google , #uber, credit cards accounts, etc. closed.

She was doing her job investigating war crimes made in Afghanistan, including by the #USA

That offended Americans. They decided to close all her accounts, which they have control over.

I'm expecting this behavior to become more and more common.

This is why #canada should work on #digitalsovereignty

https://www.irishtimes.com/world/us/2025/12/12/its-surreal-us-sanctions-lock-international-criminal-court-judge-out-of-daily-life/

‘It’s surreal’: US sanctions lock International Criminal Court judge out of daily life

Canadian judge Kimberly Prost is unable to use credit cards, transfer money or book everyday services in what she calls an attack on the independence of the judiciary

The Irish Times
Mar 12 at 7:15pmWeb
Show threadbjb  Mar 12

@frank

And you know, do less shopping on credit cards.

Show threadFrank 🍁⚜️Mar 12
@bjb Yeah, or have canadian payment services.
Show threadlinjaahoMar 13
@frank @bjb you are lucky: we in Europe (EU) have not only credit but also debit cards under Visa & Mastercard network. Offend Trump => pay with cash (the problem is that not all shops accept cash any more).
Show threadsocial elephant in the roomMar 13
@linjaaho @frank @bjb Good idea. I might try to use more cash, a small but easy way to resist.
Show threadTrimTab 🇺🇦Mar 13

@tseitr @linjaaho @frank @bjb
I have used cash exclusively for years, excluding rentals where risk must be handled. I walk out of shops GLADLY if they don't accept cash; I don't care if they already cooked my food or if they must restock items - it is legal tender. If they wont accept it then I'll find a place that will.

Cashless societies are brittle and give absolute power to a few asshole politicians to erase people who disagree. It is a moral imperitive to protect cash by using it.

Show threadxtiano 🇪🇺Mar 12
@frank wait until they realise Europeans are doing the same 🙃
Show threadFrank 🍁⚜️Mar 12

@Xtiano

Yeah, Europe seems to be making big moves in tech.

But Canada seems quite stagnant. I don't see many things moving.

Show threadxtiano 🇪🇺Mar 12
@frank sometimes I feel Europe is stagnant too. Or at least not going as fast as I’d like.
But all of my closest acquaintances don’t care about digital sovereignty. They just keep using what’s easy, simple and don’t care about the EU. I think it’s us who have to be de precursors and preachers of it. If they see us moving away maybe they’ll follow. I don’t know, I want to believe that.
Small steps. The government speaking about it also helps.
Show threadFrank 🍁⚜️Mar 12

@Xtiano

Yeah, I know the feel. I experience the same thing, but in Canada.

The way I see it is that I have to start building the infrastructure now. Eventually, the world will catch up and make the change when it's ready.

Show threadAndreaMar 16
@Xtiano @frank are we really doing something about #digitalsovereignty ? And about #moneysovereignty ? I hope that I'm wrong, but unfortunately I don't see much movement in these directions:(
Show threadxtiano 🇪🇺Mar 16

@apex @frank 🚀✨ In Europe, countries like France and Germany are moving towards **FOSS** (Free and Open Source Software) to replace Microsoft Office in government, saving on licensing costs, also France is moving away from Zoom to a French platform. Hope more join in! 🇪🇺

On top of that, the **European Payments Initiative (EPI)** is here to boost our monetary sovereignty by creating a unified payment system, reducing reliance on big players like Visa and Mastercard. It’s in a pilot phase, but as far as I know, it’s coming for p2p by the end of this year, and then B2C later in 2027/28 💳💪

Show threadAndreaMar 16
@Xtiano @frank I've never heard about Wero (the one developed by the EPI), I've just discovered thanks to your post, thanks!
...and, of course, there are no plans to introduce it in Italy, while in Belgium, France and Germany it's in use since 2024! :(
Finger crossed!
Show threadxtiano 🇪🇺Mar 16
@apex @frank it’s called different in different countries. We already have the system, it’s going to be interoperable. In Spain is Bizum I think in Italy is BancomatPay. They are going to turn that into European level, and make it available in shops so you can also pay there. At least is how I am understanding it so far.
Show threadAndreaMar 16
@Xtiano I've just started studying (thanks to you) about Wero, BancomatPay and how they will (future) work.
I'll dive into this
Show threadRobin BartonMar 12
@frank I agree fully. Why do well sell ourselves digitally to usa?
Show threadFrank 🍁⚜️Mar 12

@Robo105

Because the USA built the digital infrastructure faster, and we trusted them.

So we used their services instead of creating our own.

Now, we are paying the price.

Show threadRobin BartonMar 12
@frank Well put and we can only hope it is not too late
Show threadFrank 🍁⚜️Mar 12

@Robo105

Sure, but I think more people need to stop using American tech.

Even me, I still use Visa, Mastercard, YouTube, Amazon, Discord, etc.

They could close them at any moment given enough incentive.

Moving out is obviously an on-going process.

Show threadRobin BartonMar 13
@frank That is the reason I left facebook and went to Mastodon
Show threadFrank 🍁⚜️Mar 13

@Robo105

Yeah, I'm also planning to delete my Facebook. I still use Messenger and Marketplace though.

Ideally, I wanna start hosting my own stuff.

Show threadRobin BartonMar 13
@frank I am looking at dumping Google
Show threadFrank 🍁⚜️Mar 13

@Robo105

For me, only YouTube is holding me to delete my Google account.

I don't use gmail anymore.
My android phone uses GrapheneOS.

Show threadLRMar 13
@frank @Robo105 it's a betrayal is what it is.
Show threaddjangoMar 12
@frank wow I totally missed this!
Show threadFrank 🍁⚜️Mar 12
@django Same lol
Show threadJeremyJupiterJones Mar 12

@frank

The ICC Judge, Kimberly Prost is currently in #Aotearoa #NewZealand doing some university lectures. She spoke with NZ’s Q&A current affairs host, Jack Tame about the costs she’s faced since being sanctioned by the #Trump administration for attempting to investigate allegations of #WarCrimes, and why the mission of the #ICC is so important.

https://youtu.be/Gz2OzR96WBI

Pursuing justice despite Trump backlash: ICC Judge Kimberly Prost

YouTube
Show threadFrank 🍁⚜️Mar 12

@jeremy_pm
Interesting, I'll watch this.

Thanks for sharing

Show threadgkrnoursMar 13
@jeremy_pm @frank there is also a french ICC judge in the same situation
Show threadJeremyJupiterJones Mar 13

@gkrnours @frank

The US has also imposed sanctions on UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, accusing her of "political and economic warfare" against Israel and the US. The sanctions include asset freezes and travel restrictions.

Show threadFrank 🍁⚜️Mar 13

@gkrnours @jeremy_pm

Yeah, many ICC judges seem to be in the same situation.

Show threadBrian 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Mar 12
@frank did she support the peaceful trucker protestors who were the first to lose their banks accounts?
Show threadFrank 🍁⚜️Mar 12

@ThaDude
She's a judge in the International Criminal Court (ICC). It's related to major crimes like wars, genocides, etc.

While they share frozen bank accounts, their situations seem quite different.

Show threadKid ManiaMar 13

@ThaDude @frank
"peaceful trucker protestors"

Fuck off back to Twitter goof.
Blocked.

Show thread𝒜𝓁𝒾⋆ ♡⃛Mar 12
@frank this is very fucked 😬
Show threadFrank 🍁⚜️Mar 12

@alipunk

Yup, very fucked

Show threadcrispy branzino ☭ (sold out forever)Mar 13
@frank just use chinas unionpay. Works in 80 countries, can't be sanctioned by the USA. Not on swift.
Show threadFrank 🍁⚜️Mar 13

@Nimbius666

Yeah, but by doing that, don't you just trade an evil for another evil?

What if one day, china decides to use it against us? Just like the USA is currently doing...

Show threadcrispy branzino ☭ (sold out forever)Mar 13
@frank the point is to promote resilient tactics in the face of censorship. No financial system provides complete immunity from weaponization, save maybe monero, but as a journalist it is incumbent upon you to understand opsec when covering certain topics.
Show threadFrank 🍁⚜️Mar 13

@Nimbius666

Yeah, having multiple options is probably already a great start.

That way, you're not locked to one particular country.

Show threadPandaChronicle ResistsMar 13

@frank

🤬

Show threadjavensbukanMar 13

@frank Canada having its own credit card system would be a huge step.

We already have Interac which is hugely successful and widely used for point of sale and e-transfers.

We already also have largely independent financial interbank networks like Interac, Acculink & The Exchange.

Internationally though, it's more difficult.

Show threadFrank 🍁⚜️Mar 13

@javensbukan

Interac is very cool. It does debit cards and e-transfers in Canada.

But it doesn't do credit cards and if you want to do internationally, you usually have go though Mastercard/Visa

Show threadjavensbukanMar 13
@frank Exactly. Yeah nationally we're pretty good already. Internationally though, it's much more difficult. 😑
Show threadFrank 🍁⚜️Mar 13

@javensbukan

I'm not very familiar internationally.

I convert currencies quite often and I know that Mastercard/Visa are widely used.

Show threadjavensbukanMar 13

@frank Yeah same. Anytime I needed currency I just ordered it through my bank, or used my Visa/MasterCard internationally.

Buuuuut there is no non-US alternative offered here.

Other countries have them, like JCB and UnionPay - but not Canada. I believe Europe had their own Credit Card networks, but none as large as MC or Visa.

Show threadelkakiMar 13
@frank Are there any updates on this? A month ago I tried to search for news on her and nothing was coming up aside from the original sanctions
Show threadFrank 🍁⚜️Mar 13

@elkaki

I was given this video that was published 5 days ago.

She's doing an interview in New Zealand

EDIT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz2OzR96WBI

Pursuing justice despite Trump backlash: ICC Judge Kimberly Prost

YouTube
Show threadHeylaMar 13
@frank pareil en france, les états unis sont des parasites supremacistes a ostraciser
Show threadFrank 🍁⚜️Mar 13
@heyla
Bienvenue dans le club lol
Show threadWulfy—Speaker to the machinesMar 13

@frank

If the #USA has locked out an ICC judge out of their financials... there is only one rational conclusion.

The USA is now an International Criminal.

Show threadFrank 🍁⚜️Mar 13
@n_dimension
Yeah, they clearly don't respect the ICC and its decisions.
Show threadTofu GolemMar 13

@frank
Reminder: Google's old corporate motto was "Don't be evil."

When they dropped that as an official motto, everyone assumed they would become evil, but I, for one, did not anticipate THIS evil.

Show threadNorman WilsonMar 15
@tofugolem @frank The dirty secret is that they didn't drop the whole motto, just the first word.
Show threadsocial elephant in the roomMar 13
@frank They did it to a french judge as well. The implications of this is very scary. This means they can financially kill/disconnect you if you stand in their way.
Show threadinfinityMar 13

@frank
"Lock out oft daily life"...?

My daily life runs without amazon, google, uber, e.a.

Just EC card & MasterCard. Just not found alternatives for this....

Show threadMad Argon Mar 13
@infinity @frank yup, in Poland it seems everyone has debit card from Visa, maybe sometimes MasterCard.
And after ditching BigTech I feel I have new thing to worry about...
Show threadFrank 🍁⚜️Mar 13
@infinity Yeah, I think most people use these services as daily drivers.
Show threadDouglas Edwards Mar 13
@frank Somewhere, astute old-style American #imperialists are facepalming and headdesking. They worked SO HARD to make sure American products and services were so seductively useful and reliable that no one would be tempted to do without them — to ensure that our exploitive worldwide monopolies could be maintained. Now the ship of state has become a ship of fools, so arrogant that they imagine there will never be any consequences for the outrages they commit. But there will. Those classic monopolies are hemorrhaging good will.
Show threadAndrea PeltrinMar 13
@frank This happened to Francesca Albanese too. She is the U.N. special rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories. You can imagine why US gov blocked her credit cards. Anyway, this article from El Pais in English summarises the issue: https://archive.is/XmiAe
Show threadFrank 🍁⚜️Mar 13

@passiomatic

Yeah, the USA is basically censoring people they don't like.