Jack Dorsey Reacts As India Directs GitHub To Take Down Bitchat App Repositories
India's I4C ordered GitHub to remove three repositories for Bitchat, Jack Dorsey's Bluetooth mesh messaging app, citing security risks and potential misuse during internet shutdowns. Dorsey criticised the move on X, stating the government wants the technology taken down. Scroll below to know more about the order.
Reacting to the government's recent directive, Bitchat developer Jack Dorsey stated on X that "the government of India does not like technologies like Bitchat and wants it taken down". The response followed an order issued by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs, directing Microsoft-owned GitHub to disable access to three URLs associated with the Bluetooth mesh messaging application.
Regulatory Concerns and Law Enforcement Challenges
The I4C identified Bitchat as a communication platform capable of establishing decentralised peer-to-peer messaging over Bluetooth mesh networks without relying on mobile networks, internet connectivity, or centralised servers. Block BuilderBot: Jack Dorsey’s Firm Launches AI Tool To Manage Millions of Lines of Code After Laying Off 4,000 Employees.
Bitchat Developer Jack Dorsey Reacts
The application enables anonymous communication without mandatory user registration, phone number verification, or centralised logging of communications. According to the official notification, this framework impedes oversight during public-order situations.
"The technical architecture of the application significantly impedes lawful interception, attribution, and investigation by law enforcement agencies. Since communications occur directly between nearby devices through a decentralised mesh network, the platform can be misused to evade lawful surveillance, facilitate anonymous coordination, and circumvent lawful restrictions imposed by competent authorities during situations involving public disorder, riots, terrorism, organised crime, or internet shutdowns," the notification stated.
Intelligence Inputs and Technical Risks
The notification further highlighted that such decentralised platforms can be exploited for coordinating unlawful assemblies, violent protests, disseminating misinformation, and other activities that threaten public order and state security. "The absence of a centralised service provider also limits the ability of law enforcement agencies to obtain subscriber information, communication records, or timely assistance during investigations," the authority stated. The order specified three target URLs hosted on GitHub, including the main repository, the Android repository, and the Android releases page, instructing the intermediary to disable access without compromising evidence.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 24, 2026 05:37 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).