India Directs GitHub to Remove Jack Dorsey's Bitchat Amid Protests

On July 24, 2026, India's Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) issued an order to GitHub, instructing it to remove three repositories related to Bitchat, a decentralized messaging application developed by Jack Dorsey. The order required action within three hours and cited concerns that the app, which operates over Bluetooth without internet connectivity, could facilitate unlawful activities during times of civil unrest, terrorism, or internet shutdowns.

The repositories targeted include the main Bitchat project, its Android build, and the releases page. The I4C invoked Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and Rule 3(1)(d) of the IT Rules 2021 to substantiate this request, arguing that the app's design significantly hinders lawful interception and investigation capabilities.

Criticism has emerged from human rights organizations, including the Internet Freedom Foundation, which argues that the takedown order is both unconstitutional and authoritarian. The organization views this incident as part of a broader trend of government overreach in digital space regulation.

This action coincides with ongoing protests in India related to widespread issues, such as exam-paper leaks. Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets in Delhi, utilizing various means of offline communication as mobile networking has been restricted in and around key protest areas. The government has taken a firm stance against technologies like Bitchat, reflecting heightened scrutiny over tools that can evade traditional surveillance measures.

As protests continue, the implications of this order may extend beyond immediate concerns, stirring renewed debates on digital rights, government control, and the role of decentralized applications in civil society. Stakeholders in the crypto and tech community should monitor how this situation evolves and what it means for the broader landscape of privacy-enhancing technologies.