INDIA 🔗 Part of: Indian Government Actions and Policy Developments (23) · 25 Jul 2026 · 05:48 GMT ·1 min read

India Targets Jack Dorsey's Bitchat App Over Security Concerns and Protest Use

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) ordered GitHub to remove source code for Bitchat, a Bluetooth-based messaging app built by Jack Dorsey's company Block.

NEUTRALITY 85 · BALANCED· 4 sources

Timesofindia

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) ordered GitHub to remove source code for Bitchat, a Bluetooth-based messaging app built by Jack Dorsey's company Block. Issued on July 23, 2026, the notice cites security concerns, alleging the app facilitates unlawful activity and evades surveillance during internet shutdowns. Protesters at Jantar Mantar have used the tool to bypass signal jammers. While the government demands removal within three hours, over 2,000 forks remain active. GitHub has not confirmed compliance with the request.

Context

Bluetooth mesh messaging apps allow communication without cellular networks or internet access. These tools have gained prominence in regions experiencing internet shutdowns or signal interference. Bitchat is an open-source, decentralized, peer-to-peer messaging app created by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey.

Supportive perspectives

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) asserts that Bitchat impedes lawful interception, which is essential for maintaining public order.
Government officials argue the app facilitates the coordination of unlawful activities during periods of civil unrest.
The order invokes Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and Rule 3(1)(d) of the IT Rules, 2021, to regulate digital platforms operating within India.
The government maintains that the app's ability to bypass surveillance poses a risk to national security during internet shutdowns.

Critical perspectives

Protesters at Jantar Mantar, who are calling for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, rely on Bitchat to communicate when authorities deploy signal jammers.
The takedown order targets only three specific URLs, leaving over 2,000 existing forks of the source code accessible on GitHub.
The move mirrors actions taken by the Cyberspace Administration of China, which requested Apple remove the app from its China App Store in April 2026.