[breather]

Is blocking pirate sites even really possible or are they referring to the whack-a-mole game states play?

[ls612]

I mean the Great Firewall works fairly well so it’s a matter of political will not technical capability.

[breather]

Fairly well being the key phrase—it's not difficult for a determined individual to bypass.

[thejazzman]

Most customers aren't determined individuals

[everforward]

I wouldn't be surprised if many pirates are, though.

Look at all the software that exists to help pirate stuff, the dozens of seedbox companies, the hundreds of trackers.

I'm doubtful it would have a big impact. The knowledgeable would slap a VPN on their PC or buy a seedbox. The less technical would wait for Deluge or Transmission to add a VPN panel to their settings screen.

I'm fairly certain things would go back to normal pretty quickly.