'Risk of misuse': Govt tells GitHub to take down Bluetooth-based Bitchat app
The Indian government has ordered GitHub to remove the Bitchat app, a decentralized Bluetooth-based messaging tool created by Jack Dorsey. Officials claim the app poses a security risk by enabling anonymous communication that evades lawful surveillance.
Why it matters
This case highlights the ongoing tension between government surveillance, internet freedom, and the use of decentralized technology during civil unrest.
NEW DELHI: The Union government's cybercrime coordination centre has directed Microsoft-owned GitHub to remove Bitchat, a Bluetooth-based messaging application developed by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, citing concerns that it could be misused by terrorists, organised crime groups and anti-national elements to evade lawful surveillance.The notice comes after authorities observed several participants in the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar using Bluetooth-based messaging applications after temporary internet restrictions were imposed around the protest site.Sharing a copy of the July 23 notice on X on Friday, Dorsey claimed, "The Government of India does not like technologies like Bitchat and wants it taken down."The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), which functions under the Union home ministry, has not immediately responded to queries regarding the notice, according to news agency PTI.Govt flags anonymous, offline messaging as security riskIn its notice to GitHub, I4C said Bitchat is among a number of…
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