Disabling BitChat in India? | Explained
The Indian government has ordered GitHub to remove repositories for BitChat, a decentralized Bluetooth-based messaging app developed by Jack Dorsey. Authorities claim the app facilitates unlawful assemblies and bypasses internet restrictions, hindering law enforcement's ability to monitor communications.
Why it matters
This highlights the growing tension between decentralized, censorship-resistant technology and state efforts to maintain public order and surveillance capabilities.
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, directed GitHub on July 23, 2026, to remove repositories hosting BitChat , the Bluetooth mesh messaging application developed by X (formerly Twitter) co-founder Jack Dorsey , stating that the app could be exploited to coordinate unlawful assemblies and circumvent lawful restrictions imposed by competent authorities during situations involving public order.
The order comes at a time when repeated internet shutdowns near protest sites have led protesters to increasingly rely on Bluetooth-enabled messaging platforms such as BitChat for communication.
BitChat is a decentralised peer-to-peer messaging application that operates over Bluetooth mesh networks. It requires no internet connection, no servers and no phone numbers.
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