News in Short
- The Indian government has directed GitHub to remove repositories hosting Jack Dorsey’s Bitchat app.
- The order was issued by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Officials say the Bluetooth mesh messaging app could be used to evade lawful surveillance and internet shutdowns.
- The move comes amid the ongoing CJP protests in Delhi.
- Jack Dorsey shared the takedown notice on X, criticising the government’s decision.
The Indian government has directed GitHub to remove repositories hosting Bitchat, the offline messaging app created by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey. Authorities believe the app could help users bypass internet shutdowns and lawful surveillance during the ongoing CJP protests in Delhi.
The order was issued by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), the cybercrime division of the Ministry of Home Affairs. According to reports, GitHub received instructions to disable access to three repositories linked to the app within three hours.
The move has reignited the debate around digital privacy, open-source software and the government’s powers to regulate technologies that enable communication during internet restrictions.
Why did the government target Bitchat?
Unlike WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram, Bitchat does not rely on mobile networks, Wi-Fi or central servers. Instead, it uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mesh networking. Phones running the app relay encrypted messages to nearby devices, allowing communication even when internet services are unavailable.
Authorities argue that this technology can make lawful investigations more difficult. They also believe it could help people communicate during government-imposed internet shutdowns.
According to the takedown notice shared by Jack Dorsey on X, officials said the app could facilitate unlawful assemblies, spread misinformation and allow users to evade lawful surveillance during situations involving public disorder.
The notice reportedly cites provisions under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Information Technology Rules, 2021.
What is the link to the CJP protests?
The takedown request comes as authorities continue to enforce temporary internet restrictions around Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, where the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has been leading large demonstrations.
Reports suggest many protesters turned to offline messaging tools after mobile internet services were suspended in parts of the capital.
However, officials have not publicly confirmed whether protesters actively used Bitchat during the demonstrations. Instead, the government’s concern appears to centre on the app’s ability to function without internet access.
Can India block an app hosted on GitHub?
The government has not directly blocked Bitchat. Instead, it has asked GitHub to remove repositories containing the app’s source code.
GitHub hosts software projects and source code for developers around the world. Removing the repositories could make it harder for users to access or build the application. However, it does not necessarily prevent people who already have the app or its code from using it.
The action highlights how governments can use legal provisions to target software distribution platforms instead of consumer app stores.
Jack Dorsey responds
Jack Dorsey criticised the government’s action after sharing what appeared to be the official takedown notice on X.
In his post, Dorsey suggested that the Indian government opposed technologies such as Bitchat because they allow communication without relying on centralised infrastructure.
Neither GitHub nor the Ministry of Home Affairs had publicly confirmed whether the repositories had been removed at the time of writing.
Why this matters
The Bitchat controversy goes beyond a single messaging app. It reflects the growing tension between privacy-focused technologies and governments seeking greater oversight during periods of public unrest.
Offline communication platforms can prove valuable during natural disasters, emergencies and network outages. At the same time, authorities argue that such tools can complicate criminal investigations and make it harder to enforce public safety measures.
As decentralised technologies become more common, governments across the world are likely to face similar questions about where to draw the line between protecting national security and preserving digital freedoms.
India’s latest move against Bitchat could become an important test case for how open-source communication tools are regulated in the future.antly more difficult.
