For most messaging apps, losing mobile data means losing the ability to send messages. Bitchat was built around the opposite idea.
The messaging app could connect nearby users through Bluetooth, allowing them to communicate without mobile data, Wi-Fi or a central messaging server. That feature became particularly relevant during protests in Delhi, when authorities suspended mobile internet services around Jantar Mantar.
Now, Bitchat has been removed from Apple’s India App Store after a government request. The development has once again put the spotlight on an app that had already come under government scrutiny in July.
So, What Exactly Is Bitchat?
Bitchat is a decentralised messaging app developed by Twitter co-founder and Block CEO Jack Dorsey.
Unlike WhatsApp or Telegram, it does not depend on a traditional internet connection for nearby messaging. It uses Bluetooth mesh networking, allowing phones in proximity to connect with one another and relay messages between devices.
The app was designed to work without phone numbers, email addresses or a central server. Its architecture also supports encrypted messaging.
In simple terms, if mobile internet is unavailable but nearby phones have Bluetooth switched on, Bitchat can still allow users to communicate within the range of its network.
Dorsey announced Bitchat in July 2025, describing it as a weekend project to explore Bluetooth mesh networks, message relays and encryption.
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Why Did Gen Z Protesters Use It?
The app became particularly relevant in India during protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar in July 2026.
Students and other protesters were dealing with repeated mobile internet suspensions around the protest site. Since Bitchat could operate without cellular internet, it offered a way for people within Bluetooth range to stay connected.
Reports at the time said protesters used Bitchat, along with other offline communication tools, when mobile internet services were suspended.
The app's use during the protests also drove a sharp rise in interest in India. According to data from Sensor Tower, India accounted for around 85% of Bitchat's global downloads between 17 and 23 July, compared with about 1% during the previous 30 days.
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What Is The First Government Action?
Bitchat had already faced government action before its latest removal from the App Store.
On 23 July, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, or I4C, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, directed GitHub to disable access to repositories hosting Bitchat's source code. The order, shared publicly by Dorsey, gave GitHub a short deadline to act.
The July action cited concerns about the app's architecture making lawful interception, identification and investigation difficult. The government also raised concerns about possible misuse by criminal and terrorist groups.
That action was different from the latest development. July's order targeted access to Bitchat's code on GitHub. The October action concerns the app's availability to users in India.
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Why Has Apple Removed Bitchat Now?
On 3 October, Apple removed Bitchat from its India App Store following a demand from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology(MeitY).
Dorsey shared a screenshot of Apple's App Review notice on X. According to the notice, MeitY had requested the removal under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Apple said the app was being removed because it "includes content that is illegal in India". However, the notice did not publicly identify the specific content or provide details of the government's grounds.
Apple also said Bitchat would remain available on its App Store outside India.
Reports also found that Bitchat was unavailable through Google Play in India around the same time, although the publicly available Apple notice specifically documented the MeitY request to Apple.
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What Has Jack Dorsey Said?
Dorsey publicly called out the Indian government for the latest removal.
On 3 October, he posted the Apple notice on X with a short statement saying that the "Government of India officially removes bitchat from the App Store."
This was not his first public criticism of government action against the app.
In July, after sharing the I4C notice to GitHub, Dorsey said the Indian government did not like technologies such as Bitchat and wanted it taken down.
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What Happens Next?
The latest action raises questions about how governments should regulate communication tools that can continue working when mobile internet is suspended.
The government has cited concerns around security, lawful interception and potential misuse. Digital rights organisation Internet Freedom Foundation, however, criticised the latest action and argued that Section 69A concerns blocking unlawful information, rather than blocking a messenger because it can operate during internet shutdowns. It also called for the blocking order to be made public.
For ordinary users, the immediate change is straightforward: Bitchat is no longer available for download through Apple's India App Store.
But the bigger story is about the technology itself. Bitchat was designed for exactly the situation in which conventional messaging apps struggle: when there is no internet connection.
That feature helped turn a niche messaging experiment into a tool noticed during India's protests, and eventually into the subject of government action.
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TL;DR | News At a Glance
What Is Bitchat And How Does It Work?
Bitchat is an offline messaging app co-founded by Jack Dorsey. It uses Bluetooth to send messages between nearby devices without mobile internet or Wi-Fi.
Why Was Bitchat Used During Jantar Mantar Protests?
Protesters used Bitchat when mobile internet services were suspended around Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, allowing nearby users to communicate offline.
Why Did India Remove Bitchat From The App Store?
Apple removed Bitchat from India’s App Store after a government request under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act.
What Security Concerns Were Raised About Bitchat?
Authorities raised concerns about lawful interception, identification and investigation, as well as the potential misuse of an app that can operate without conventional internet services.
What Did Jack Dorsey Say About Bitchat’s Removal?
Jack Dorsey shared Apple’s removal notice on X and said the Government of India had officially removed Bitchat from the App Store.
Was Bitchat Already Targeted By The Indian Government?
Yes. In July 2026, the government directed GitHub to disable access to repositories hosting Bitchat’s source code.
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