On June 5, 2025, four individuals in the Netherlands woke up to light drizzles and a jarring announcement: they were locked out of most of the world’s financial systems. Overnight, their bank accounts were inaccessible, their cards declined, they could no longer use online purchasing platforms, and most online services were blocked. The reason for this revocation of access to the 21st century is deeply concerning: They were sanctioned by the United States for acts the US claims exceeds their