[DontTellAnyone]

Western governments don't even protect their own citizens from this. In fact they encourage it if they deem you a political enemy.

There are many European political dissidents here that had dozens of bank accounts canceled on them. Sometimes the only way to have a bank account after reaching a certain level of popularity is to bank in countries like Georgia, Bulgaria etc. where nobody has heard of you. Until they, too, cancel your account and you're unbanked again and unable to participate in a modern economy.

IMO the only way out of this kind of oppression is crypto, at least in the long term.

[caoilte]

I'm not aware of any Western European political dissidents who have had bank accounts cancelled, but it wouldn't surprise me if a fascist/racist like Tommy Robinson violated some hate speech law and had bank accounts he was receiving donations to cancelled.

It's very common for Venezuelan, Iranian and Cuban citizens to be targeted in this way, however. Even those with dual nationality.

The fundamental problem is that bank accounts are not considered a human right. As we become increasingly cashless this becomes more and more of a problem.

[lostlogin]

> I'm not aware of any Western European political dissidents who have had bank accounts cancelled

It’s not the same but it’s on its way there - in New Zealand Nicky Hagar wrote Dirty Politics - shady deals and hatchet jobs being performed by a sleazy blog at the behest of politicians (primarily the current leader of New Zealand’s largest opposition party, Judith Collins).

Under political pressure to act, police asked Westpac bank for 10 months of Hager's bank records and received them, falsely claiming he was being investigated for fraud. They did not have a warrant.

The whole disgusting episode was made farcical by the later revelation that police had searched Hagars house but missed documents leaked by Snowden.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/police-pay-nicky-hager-substan...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirty_Politics

[im3w1l]

https://reclaimthenet.org/gab-refused-by-three-banks

Founder's family has also been blacklisted, because apparently they are guilty by association.

[shapefrog]

Wikileaks.

[krageon]

> I'm not aware of

Yes, but to be fair that can just as easily be because as soon as you earn enough reputation as a dissident you are buried (metaphorically! Western Europe is very velvet glove when it comes to murder).

[kvgr]

Can you name some? Never herd of such thing…

[coffeevradar]

Hi there, if it's ok with you I'm going to address subsequent commenters for a moment. Anyone smarter than me, let's focus on this comment. Isn't this the type of social media post that would be immediately dismissed as self-serving propaganda that has the effect of undermining both democracy and the dollar? What is the essential difference between this post and the kind of nonsense that is now being patrolled on other social media platforms?

[chinathrow]

Crypto cannot be a way out IMHO - resistance, outrage and press coverage can be. If you rely on technical measures to fight opression, you're doomed long term.

[leppr]

"Technical measures" are the necessary leverage to get into negotiation. Without any teeth, you can do as many demonstrations as you want, the enemy probably has a better propaganda machine than you and can win the pure opinion-shaping war long term.

People shape their opinion around the perceived space of possibilities. Good luck sustaining outrage on the long term against an enemy who can incentivize friendly public discourse with tangible rewards.

[WanderPanda]

Why would that be? Are you aware of historic precedences for this?

[oliwarner]

Because the problem here is companies being pressured by states for political ends. So okay, route around the banking problem by switching to crypto. It's just 100 times harder for somebody to donate, and for the foundation to spend, but whatever.

Now this rogue nation state targets your landlords, your water company, your kids' school. How much can you route around or DIY before you're a prisoner?

The fix has to be other countries pushing back, ensuring freedom.

[leppr]

Just like with anything security, it's not about eliminating 100% of the risk but making it harder for enemies to attack you. Crypto might not be the holy grail solution, but securing your lifeline for living in society (money), is a pretty good start.

> Now this rogue nation state targets your landlords, your water company, your kids' school.

Without access to money you can't get any of these things. With cash, you can manage to find lodging, food and education for your kids.

[oliwarner]

Holding crypto does not guarantee access to cash.

I'm not saying it's worthless, it's far better than nothing, but you're still a prisoner if you're being denied mainstream staples like banking.

[krageon]

No, because technical measures don't have historic precedence. They're uniquely modern.