Overview
- Apple removed Jack Dorsey’s Bitchat from the India App Store on October 3 after the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issued a Section 69A blocking demand, and Apple told the developer to contact the ministry for details.
- Google Play listings and the app’s project website were reported inaccessible in India, and Apple said TestFlight beta access would also be blocked there, preventing new installs and public beta testing.
- The action follows a July order from the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre that asked GitHub to disable Bitchat repositories for concerns that its Bluetooth mesh design hinders lawful interception and can operate during internet shutdowns.
- Digital‑rights groups including the Internet Freedom Foundation say the move is unconstitutional because Section 69A targets unlawful information not a communications tool, and they have demanded the government publish the blocking order and provide due process.
- Bitchat is open source and uses Bluetooth mesh to relay end‑to‑end encrypted messages without central servers, so removal from stores stops distribution and updates but does not remotely erase existing installs, and the case underscores how government orders can quickly cut off multiple distribution layers.