End of Bitcoin?

[pvk444]

Ok, so this is the very first time I am seriously concerned about the future of bitcoin:

https://gizmodo.com/child-pornography-that-researchers-found-in-the-blockch-1823927566

This article talks only about child pornography within the blockchain, but apparently the researchers also found copyrighted material, and other illegal content. Having worked on international governance matters, I fear this could mobilize sufficient national authorities to arrange a concerted crack-down on anything related to bitcoin (starting with, for instance, prohibiting exchanges, fiat flows related to bitcoin etc.).

Given the nature of the blockchain, I can't see any TECHNICAL solution.

Two questions in this regards:

1) do you agree that this is a major threat to the existence of bitcoin?
2) assuming that bitcoin would have be "restarted" (a fork obviously would not solve the problem), how could an "ethical" and "legally acceptable" from of the blockchain and thus bitcoin work?

[pvk444]

Did find this view regarding on BTC regarding this specific instance reported in the news:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3173383.0

Even IF (and this is a big IF) this particular case turns out to be a non-issue, that does still leave the question of how to prevent illegal content to find it's way onto the blockchain and thus threaten the existence of bitcoin.

[IgorShumilo]

Do you really think that this can harm the technology of the blocking system? You are funny)

[Shaminyue]

How it can be the end of Bitcoin while the value of Bitcoin is about 9000$? remember even 9000$ or 5000$, it's already get high in long time, when i see bitcoin at 5000$ last year i dont belive in my eyes. It's so early to say the end of Bitcoin now, i think it's just a begining, we will see more big things in this year belive me.

[clrpod]

The internet is home to lots of horrific things and facilitates them, that still exists and people would be unable to function in their day to day lives without the internet. Because a select group use something for bad does not mean you can punish the many for it. They will only find another way to sin if you remove their current one.

[bettercrypto]

I scanned the article where I saw how does the technology used in the immorality of the people. Even before, there are lot of issues of child pornography in pur society. It is not a new to everyone that technology is used in order to make this such crime. And as of now, the backbone of blockchain technology of bitcoin is also used in order to make a transaction in child pornography. That's insane! Humanity nowadays don't have the satisfaction and I think our society right now is slowly becomes a garbage that will perish soon! However, it does not inflict in the bitcoin though there is a connection between of them. Bitcoin is a currency, it is made just to transact.

[Jating]

Ok, so this is the very first time I am seriously concerned about the future of bitcoin:

https://gizmodo.com/child-pornography-that-researchers-found-in-the-blockch-1823927566

This article talks only about child pornography within the blockchain, but apparently the researchers also found copyrighted material, and other illegal content. Having worked on international governance matters, I fear this could mobilize sufficient national authorities to arrange a concerted crack-down on anything related to bitcoin (starting with, for instance, prohibiting exchanges, fiat flows related to bitcoin etc.).

Given the nature of the blockchain, I can't see any TECHNICAL solution.

Two questions in this regards:

1) do you agree that this is a major threat to the existence of bitcoin?
2) assuming that bitcoin would have be "restarted" (a fork obviously would not solve the problem), how could an "ethical" and "legally acceptable" from of the blockchain and thus bitcoin work?

What is this? Another attack on crypto and trying to portray it in bad light?

I believed that this is another FUD to spread malice about cryptosphere so I urge you to not take it seriously. You have to look at traditional fiat. Its been used not just for child pornography but other illicit things. They are trying to put a blame on blockchain which is obviously is not designed to be for criminals used.

Again, this kind of article should be put to trash bin because its totally garbage and the argument is seriously flawed.

[Downloadlink]

maybe at the end net bitcoin would be good because with the bitcoin in our country it's impossible to increase it and even though I'm a novice, I believe I'm going to be here with bitcoin.

[seoincorporation]

Child pornography is an issue for all the internet. Even if the blockchain technology has some in it, due to corrupted people using it that fuck... way, this is not technology's fault. Even in Google you can find some websites with child pornography, and it doesn't mean the whole Google system is going to be taken down, as neither should be torrent (where, for sure, you will find some of this sick content), or many other platforms.
The fight against child pornography is not only a Blockchain issue but also all the internet platforms where you can actually upload whatever you want.
So, no. They can't just throw up a great a new technology based on a common problem.

[Carmen01]

Better to report this or if you can't do anything about it then this post OP is good but the title of topic is not good why end of bitcoin better to change it because if you say end of bitcoin then no more crypto anymore in the future of it so that's not good,i think also all are open now in world so we need to accept that if they can think that or like that another thing for them that is business and not bad

[dothebeats]

Ok, so this is the very first time I am seriously concerned about the future of bitcoin:

https://gizmodo.com/child-pornography-that-researchers-found-in-the-blockch-1823927566

This article talks only about child pornography within the blockchain, but apparently the researchers also found copyrighted material, and other illegal content. Having worked on international governance matters, I fear this could mobilize sufficient national authorities to arrange a concerted crack-down on anything related to bitcoin (starting with, for instance, prohibiting exchanges, fiat flows related to bitcoin etc.).

Given the nature of the blockchain, I can't see any TECHNICAL solution.

Child pornography existed way before bitcoin and the blockchain's inception, so technically if the government can't do shit about this type of activity, it would just be one of their petty reasons as to why bitcoin should be banned because these things exist. If the government really is sincere in ending such worldly and immoral things, they'd go to the root of it and not only kill the branches; it will keep on spreading in different media as long as the root still exists.

Most of the time, the governments are just interested in getting something out of crypto gains and just seize such kinds of opportunities if they think they can milk some $ in the process. A government caring for its people's interests is just an illusion nowadays.

1) do you agree that this is a major threat to the existence of bitcoin?

If CP and other illicit activities is a threat to bitcoin, shouldn't these things a threat to fiat as well knowing that these industries flourished with the funding of fiat first before getting into the realms of bitcoin? That is if the government is sincere in chasing down the operators of such industries, but no, they're just after monetary gains and personal interests lol.

2) assuming that bitcoin would have be "restarted" (a fork obviously would not solve the problem), how could an "ethical" and "legally acceptable" from of the blockchain and thus bitcoin work?

Bitcoin isn't intended to be pure and ethical in the first place. It's basically another form of money, and where there is money, there'd obviously be scums ready to do everything just to get $$$ no matter what their ways are. If the blockchain isn't legally acceptable right now, then how come the banks and several nations are trying to do some research about it to see whether they can integrate it in their systems? This is yet another topic of crooked morality being linked to a money which, we all know isn't going to be vindicated no matter how much effort we exert. Money is money, no matter what form it may be or what medium it exist, there'd be illegal things happening around it and you can't prevent that with a single kill-switch/change of code/system overhaul.

[DesmondHayes]

How it can be the end of Bitcoin while the value of Bitcoin is about 9000$? remember even 9000$ or 5000$, it's already get high in long time, when i see bitcoin at 5000$ last year i dont belive in my eyes. It's so early to say the end of Bitcoin now, i think it's just a beginning, we will see more big things in this year belive me.

Not one criminal activity will stop the Bitcoin growth. Child pornography is also connected with the centralized currencies but because of the false news presented by the media people are blaming the BTC usage for the criminal activities.

I agree that this fall is taking to long and many people are losing interest but couple years ago people didn't even know that BTC will achieve value it is today no matter of the fall.

This for sure isn't the end only the regulated beginning!

[dakilangisajaja]

maybe at the end net bitcoin would be good because with the bitcoin in our country it's impossible to increase it and even though I'm a novice, I believe I'm going to be here with bitcoin.

That's what you said, because now it's nice to have bitcoin and we've got a lot of money here when bitcoin increases the scammer so we're careful.

but my opinion here is bitcoin when it comes to the end there are so many bitcoins to be rich because if you want to be rich it is patience that is also my dream but rich.

[pvk444]

Do you really think that this can harm the technology of the blocking system? You are funny)

How are you so naive to think that it cannot hurt bitcoin? If bitcoin opponents (or generally crypto opponents) start including more and more illegal content in the blockchain, how is that not a problem? Governments might not be able to "stop" bitcoin directly, but they can indirectly cut of the life blood of bitcoin.

[pvk444]

How it can be the end of Bitcoin while the value of Bitcoin is about 9000$? remember even 9000$ or 5000$, it's already get high in long time, when i see bitcoin at 5000$ last year i dont belive in my eyes. It's so early to say the end of Bitcoin now, i think it's just a begining, we will see more big things in this year belive me.

Has nothing to do with  or economics. Even if bitcoin would be 100k or more, the point is that the blockchain includes illegal material, then those who run full nodes (in particular professional miners) can potentially be prosecuted and shut down.

[Pursuer]

this is a pretty fucked up thing and it is not new either meaning it didn't happen yesterday. it happened a long time ago, the news is just being spread now because now it is time for FUDing.
and no matter how bad this seems to be like, it is not the end of bitcoin because it is not affecting the functionality of bitcoin and so far nobody has cared about this matter despite its existence.

[boboking]

Why do we need to blame the technology. Terrorism, momey laundering, child pornography etc. existed before bitcoin does. Also even if you ban bitcoin because of this evil acts will it gurantee that it would stop.

What they need to do is to concentrate on persecuting this criminals.

[pvk444]

The internet is home to lots of horrific things and facilitates them, that still exists and people would be unable to function in their day to day lives without the internet. Because a select group use something for bad does not mean you can punish the many for it. They will only find another way to sin if you remove their current one.

Agreed. The difference though, is that usually it's the individuals deliberate choice whether they want to own illegal material or not. If the blockchain (any public blockchain, not just bitcoin) contains illegal metarial, people (e.g. miners) might not even be aware they "own" such illegal material and face criminal charges.

The point here is that if governments want to "remove" the illegal content in blockchains the only way is to shut down and confiscate evey full node, which would indirectly kill the blockchain.

[angrygroceries]

Ok, so this is the very first time I am seriously concerned about the future of bitcoin:

https://gizmodo.com/child-pornography-that-researchers-found-in-the-blockch-1823927566

This article talks only about child pornography within the blockchain, but apparently the researchers also found copyrighted material, and other illegal content. Having worked on international governance matters, I fear this could mobilize sufficient national authorities to arrange a concerted crack-down on anything related to bitcoin (starting with, for instance, prohibiting exchanges, fiat flows related to bitcoin etc.).

Given the nature of the blockchain, I can't see any TECHNICAL solution.

Two questions in this regards:

1) do you agree that this is a major threat to the existence of bitcoin?
2) assuming that bitcoin would have be "restarted" (a fork obviously would not solve the problem), how could an "ethical" and "legally acceptable" from of the blockchain and thus bitcoin work?

Death cycle of bitcoin? The recent bitcoin growth, which marked the return of bitcoin?
My answer is yes, when all of bitcoin and altcoin have grown amazingly over the past week, we've figured out that bitcoin is not something that can be erased. an organization or any individual, bitcoin is now absolutely indispensable, now we need to earn a lot of bitcoin and ethereum while others are still scared bitcoin and eth are dying. What a nonsense question!

[pvk444]

this is a pretty fucked up thing and it is not new either meaning it didn't happen yesterday. it happened a long time ago, the news is just being spread now because now it is time for FUDing.
and no matter how bad this seems to be like, it is not the end of bitcoin because it is not affecting the functionality of bitcoin and so far nobody has cared about this matter despite its existence.

The public outrage might be "fud". However, I am trying to have reasoned discussion here.

Everyone who says here that it's not threatening bitcoin or that the question is non-sense, please indicate where in the following the reasoning is wrong:

1. Given the blockchain technology, it is currently possible to include illegal material on the blockchain. Yes / no?
2. Once illegal metarial is included on the blockchain and the block has been verified (assume several hundred confirmations), there is no way to change such a block. Yes/ no?
3. Depenent on the illegal material, governments might be more inclined to prosecute (think child pornography, national secrets, organized crime etc.). Yes / no?
4. Every full node will inadvertendly own such illegal material. Yes / no?
5. Owning illegal content is in some instances a criminal offence (e.g. in many countriesyi you can be criminally charged, if you have child pornography on your computer, whether you use is it or not, whether you know about or not). Yes / no?
6. At least in the case of bitcoin, miners and pools are critical to bitcoin and have the full node. Yes / no?
7. If governments want to crack down on owning illegal material, which is part of the blockchain the easiest way would be go to the professional miners and pools and confiscate their material. Yes / no?


If you followed this argument and agree with the statements, then the only conclusion will have to be that bitcoin could be at threat. if you don't agree with one of the statement, I would be curious to understand which one and why.