In Physics this is true, and probably is also in many things of life…
Australia wanted to force a ban of infected computers from the networks, but suddenly in an moment of lucidity the government saw that this could backfire. The problem with infected computers is that the persistence of the infections has nothing to do with the removal of single nodes but with the topology of the network as an whole. I fear that this type of measure is misguided by another type of intentions. If a system that removes users computers from network is in place and users are accustomed to it, wont copyright agencies be the next ones to ask for this? (Well, they already passed the 3 strikes law). Or what will happen when someone’s computer is publishing political views different from those of the government? Or, could for example a rugby team forbid computers from the opponent team to be online? You see where this could be heading.
The internet grew in a self-organised way. (Self-organised not meaning randomly). This type of measures are constrains that affect the network. For now the negative feedbacks that these constrains impose are still minor compared to the positive feedback loops that the network has to expand and grow, but one day they will be to much and might hurt the network in a way that the giant component might break into smaller parts. Then all that these governments will have are a bunch of sticks that don’t really make a tree anymore.
The ways of the world are in some ways incomprehensible to politicians (not all, but the majority). Trying to rule on matters that are out of their control will end on failure of the rules or catastrophe of the system. Let’s hope that they stick to what they are best at (whatever that is).