India Orders Takedown of Jack Dorsey's Bitchat Messaging App

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre has ordered GitHub to disable access to repositories of Bitchat, a decentralized messaging application created by Jack Dorsey, on July 24, 2026. Bitchat facilitates encrypted messaging and bitcoin transactions over Bluetooth mesh networks, making it particularly useful for protesters in Delhi who are circumventing frequent internet shutdowns imposed during demonstrations against the government.

The directive cites concerns that Bitchat's architecture impedes lawful interception by law enforcement, as it allows anonymous communication without requiring phone numbers or centralized logging. The decision comes amidst significant student-led protests against alleged exam misconduct, where demonstrators have adopted various mesh-network tools, including Bitchat, to coordinate their actions without government interference.

As of the afternoon of July 24, it was unclear if GitHub complied with the takedown request within the specified three-hour deadline. Bitchat remained accessible through major app stores, highlighting the challenges posed by the open-source nature of such applications, which are often mirrored across multiple platforms. Open-source software frequently poses difficulties for authorities trying to eliminate specific versions from public access.

Jack Dorsey himself tweeted about the situation, writing, "the government of India does not like technologies like Bitchat and wants it taken down." This reflects the ongoing tension between decentralized technology advocates and governmental efforts to control communication channels amid protests. Bitchat, released as open-source software in July 2025, empowers users to conduct bitcoin transactions without dependency on centralized networks, a feature valued by its supporters.

Given the legal and regulatory landscape, the implications of this order on the usage of decentralized technologies in India warrant monitoring. The success of such apps during protests could influence discussions on digital freedoms and the role of technology in civil disobedience.

As disturbances continue in major Indian cities, observers will be keenly interested in how technological tools like Bitchat evolve and whether they can withstand governmental pressure.