Every individual JW is free to choose whether to obey the GB or not - they just don't know it.
It is a prison of the mind you are in as a JW, which is difficult to prove.
Waking up to this is like you and your loved ones have been sitting in a prison cell for years when you get up one day and finally trying to open the door you discover it's actually never been locked and walking out past the guards to find out they never had the physical power to stop you and their guns are props.
It sucks donkey dong and it is difficult and scary to disobey the GB but people can always use the magic word when it comes to shunning or any other GB imposed rules, and that word is NO!