Bitchat India Ban: What Happened to the Messaging App
The Bitchat India ban has removed Jack Dorsey’s decentralized messaging app from Apple and Google’s app stores in the country. The takedown follows a government order issued months after New Delhi first moved to restrict access to the open-source software.
Dorsey said Saturday that the Indian government had ordered Apple to remove Bitchat from its App Store in India. In a notice from Apple that Dorsey posted on X, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issued the demand under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, the country’s primary legal provision for government-ordered online blocking.
Apple’s notice said Bitchat would remain available on its App Store outside India. Access to the app through its TestFlight beta-testing service would also be blocked in the country.
Google Play and Website Access Also Cut
Bitchat was also no longer available for download through Google Play in India when the app was checked on Saturday. Bitchat’s website was also inaccessible across various internet service providers in the country.
It was not immediately clear whether Google and internet service providers had also received directions from the federal government.
Apple, Google, and India’s IT ministry did not respond to requests for comment.
How Bitchat Works
Launched in July last year, Bitchat uses Bluetooth mesh networking to allow nearby devices to exchange encrypted messages without relying on cellular networks, internet access, or centralized servers.
In July 2026, Dorsey revealed that Indian authorities had ordered GitHub to take down repositories associated with the open-source messaging app. That move raised questions among digital rights advocates and legal experts about the legal basis for restricting software based on its functionality.
The Indian government said in its order to GitHub at the time that Bitchat’s architecture made it hard for law enforcement agencies to intercept communications or trace users. It also pointed to the app’s ability to continue operating during internet shutdowns.
The July order relied on a provision of India’s information technology law that deals with intermediaries and their liability for third-party content. That differs from Section 69A, cited in Apple’s latest notice.
Digital Rights Group Calls Order Unconstitutional
The Internet Freedom Foundation, a New Delhi-based digital rights advocacy group, called the latest order unconstitutional. It argued that Section 69A allows the government to block unlawful information but not a messaging app because of its ability to operate during internet shutdowns.
The group also said neither the blocking order nor the allegedly illegal content cited as the basis for the action had been made public.
Protests and Internet Shutdowns
The latest restrictions on Bitchat come as India is seeing a fresh wave of youth-led protests over changes to the country’s voter rolls. Police detained several people during demonstrations in New Delhi on Saturday, as protesters demanded the resignation of India’s chief election commissioner over alleged manipulation of electoral rolls.
Authorities suspended internet services around New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar for 12 hours on Friday during protests there.
During July’s protests, demonstrators reportedly turned to Bitchat and rival app Briar after authorities suspended internet services.
Surge in Indian Downloads
Interest in Bitchat surged in India around the same time. The country accounted for about 85% of the app’s global downloads between July 17 and July 23, up from roughly 1% in the previous 30 days, data from market intelligence firm Sensor Tower showed.
Why the Bitchat India Ban Matters
The Bitchat India ban raises broader questions about how governments can restrict software based on how it works rather than what it carries. Because Bitchat relies on Bluetooth mesh networking instead of centralized servers, it can keep working when mobile networks and internet access go down.
That design is exactly what concerns Indian authorities. In the earlier GitHub order, the government said Bitchat’s architecture made it difficult for law enforcement to intercept communications or trace users. Digital rights advocates argue that this reasoning sets a precedent for blocking any tool that resists surveillance.
The Internet Freedom Foundation has stressed that Section 69A is meant to target unlawful content, not an entire app. The group also noted that the blocking order and the allegedly illegal content behind it have not been made public, leaving users and developers without a clear explanation.
For now, Bitchat remains available outside India. Inside the country, users who already installed the app may still be able to use it locally, since Bluetooth mesh networking does not depend on app stores or internet access. New downloads, however, are no longer possible through official channels.
Whether the Bitchat India ban is challenged in court remains to be seen. Apple, Google, and India’s IT ministry have not commented on the order, and no timeline has been given for a possible review.
