The story so far
Bitchat App Block Order
Tracked across 3 sources · Updated 4h ago
India's cybercrime center directed GitHub to remove Bitchat, a Bluetooth-based decentralized messaging app, citing national security risks due to its anonymous, offline nature. Jack Dorsey confirmed the order amid protests. The app allows messaging without internet or servers.
How it unfolded
2d ago
Details of Bitchat's offline messaging revealed
3d ago
Jack Dorsey confirms removal order amid protests
3d ago
India directs GitHub to remove Bitchat app
What happened earlier
Latest updates
Latest
Full story →What Is Bitchat? Jack Dorsey's Offline Messaging App Under Spotlight
Bitchat is a decentralised peer-to-peer messaging app.
It allows messaging without internet, mobile network, servers, phone numbers, or email addresses.
The app was developed by Jack Dorsey's team.
It uses Bluetooth and mesh networking to connect nearby devices.
Earlier · 3d ago
Full story →'Substantial risk of misuse by anti-national elements': Govt directs GitHub to take down Bluetooth-based Bitchat app
India's cybercrime coordination centre (I4C) directed Microsoft-owned GitHub to remove Bitchat, a Bluetooth-based messaging app developed by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey.
The government cited 'substantial risk of misuse by anti-national elements' and said Bitchat could be used by terrorists and organized crime groups to evade lawful surveillance.
Bitchat enables anonymous, offline messaging over Bluetooth mesh networks without mandatory registration, phone number verification, or centralized logging, which impedes law enforcement interception.
The action follows observations of participants in the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar using Bluetooth-based apps after internet restrictions were imposed.
Jack Dorsey claimed on X that 'The Government of India does not like technologies like Bitchat and wants it taken down.'