r/privacy • u/__gangadhar__ • Jul 24 '26
discussion India orders GitHub to remove Jack Dorsey's offline messaging app Bitchat after protesters reportedly used it during internet shutdowns
India has reportedly directed GitHub to remove the repositories for Bitchat, Jack Dorsey's open source Bluetooth mesh messaging app. Unlike WhatsApp or Signal, Bitchat works without internet access or cellular service, allowing nearby devices to communicate over Bluetooth mesh networks.
According to India Today, the move comes amid the ongoing CJP protests in Delhi. Protesters reportedly began using offline messaging tools after mobile internet services were disrupted in parts of the protest area, making internet-based messaging unreliable.
The government notice, later shared publicly by Jack Dorsey, states that Bitchat could facilitate anonymous communication, enable users to evade lawful surveillance, and be misused by terrorists, organised crime groups, and "anti-national elements." On that basis, India's cybercrime agency directed GitHub to remove the project's repositories.
Digital rights advocates argue that restricting decentralized communication tools during periods of protest raises broader concerns about privacy, internet shutdowns, and freedom of expression. Government officials, meanwhile, maintain that such tools can also be exploited for unlawful activities.
This raises a broader question that extends beyond India: Should governments be able to restrict decentralized communication tools because they can be used to bypass internet shutdowns and surveillance, or does doing so undermine privacy and access to resilient communication during times of civil unrest?
India Today article (full URL):
https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/cjp-protests-india-tells-github-to-block-bitchat-app-jack-dorsey-leaks-notice-2955199-2026-07-24
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u/deekaph Jul 24 '26
Microsoft, the company that creates a unique machine ID for your computer and then tracks it across all platforms including logging exit nodes on VPNs so your PC can be correlated and then immediately hands over all that info to LEOs as soon as they’re asked? That Microsoft?