India removes Bitchat messaging app from stores citing public safety concerns
India's IT Ministry ordered the removal of Jack Dorsey's Bitchat application from Apple and Google app stores, with government sources citing law-and-order risks from the offline Bluetooth messaging tool. Bitchat enables peer-to-peer messaging across multiple hops using the 5 GHz unlicensed spectrum without requiring internet connectivity. The app had previously drawn scrutiny from India's cybercrime authorities in July 2026.
India's government has taken action against Bitchat, a messaging platform that operates independently of traditional internet infrastructure. The application leverages Bluetooth connectivity across multiple device relays, allowing users to communicate without requiring cellular or broadband networks. This technical architecture, which uses unlicensed 5 GHz spectrum, formed the basis of the authorities' removal request.
The action represents an escalation following earlier intervention attempts. India's cybercrime authorities had previously sought to suppress Bitchat's distribution through other channels, including demanding its removal from code repositories. The timing of these enforcement efforts has coincided with periods of significant civil unrest in the country.
The removal could affect developers and users who rely on mesh-based messaging for communication resilience, potentially including those in areas with limited internet access. Civil liberties advocates may view such restrictions as precedent for controlling communications infrastructure, while security officials may argue such tools present coordination risks during civil disturbances. The action reflects broader global tensions between platform governance and state oversight in the technology sector.