Why, why do you think that many would have supported steem if it had reserved rights exclusively like removing or restricting access? It's contrary to the idea of steem first and foremost, so those that would support steem they would do it in spite of that and especially because such reserved rights don't exist.
Wouldn't whatever is necessary to shut down competition to their control agenda not involve otherwise registering an account and posting to the network? And so what, you have to define exactly how that is possible, or precisely how could the government bring down steem, not only is it designed to be resistant to such things, but just like torrents, it distributes itself in a decentralized manner which has demonstrated itself for over a decade now.
There are many who use Facebook, for example, who consider that ability to be a requirement of a 'safe' network. A network that has no mechanism for removing predatory sex offenders, for example - will not meet the safety requirements of various groups and individuals. The list of reasons why people will not use such a service is quite long. In some senses the question can be reframed to 'why do people support government?'.
The act of registering an account is not a requirement for causing the network a problem.
We are talking about a government that has been caught illegally murdering millions of innocent people and stealing trillions of dollars to fund illegal activities of many kinds. They have no scruples at all and so would have no problem at all in launching all manner of exploits, psychological operations, social engineering attacks - whatever is necessary. Bit Torrent may still exist as a technology, but Torrent domains are totally blocked in much of Europe without the use of Tor or an equivalent service. Governments can and will use their power to compel domain registration ISPs, DNS ISPs and other ISPs to simply block domains that they want to shut down. There are ways around that, but then it just becomes an arms race and war between the groups.. This is not an environment that the majority of people are comfortable being involved in.
I already showed how torrents is not unstoppable. torrents today are a shadow of what they were initially before the main sites were controlled via government dictats. If government were REALLY bothered about shutting down torrents then they would do so - just as other governments have literally locked down their entire internet to the point of farce.
I did not say that I was for such control - I am simply highlighting that a significant percentage of the internet's users ARE for such control - that is all.
ironically, this is exactly what I was pointing to in the rest of this thread regarding the fact that those with the most money DO have 'powers that others don't have' in that they can hide posts in a way that I and the majority of others cannot do. You are somewhat contradicting yourself in the overall context of this thread.
Not at all, I did not say that at all and you didn't provide any explanation as to why you have concluded as you did here.
I do not accept that any digital system is beyond compromise.
I have no idea what you are saying here. A whale, in Steem - in my definition, is someone with a lot of Steem Power (which is able to be purchased with money).
It's a bit tiring to be repeatedly told what I am allegedly saying, when it is me who is saying it and thus me who actually knows what I am saying.
What they did was not ineffective exactly since I know many people who once used torrents who now do not because of this. VPNs can be compromised and most likely are transparent to those operating the highest spy technologies. TOR was created through a government project and is likely compromised at the very least through the running of corrupt end points.
If you accept that all systems CAN be compromised and we know that, via snowden's leaks and other sources, that the government groups are going to extreme lengths to compromise EVERYTHING - then it you should reassess your claim that any government act is null in respect to shutting down Torrents.