Why the Indian Government is Targeting Jack Dorsey's Bitchat App: A Deep Dive

The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre has ordered the removal of Bitchat, a Bluetooth messaging app developed by Jack Dorsey. The government cites concerns over its potential misuse for illegal activities, especially during times of internet restrictions. The app's ability to facilitate anonymous communication without user verification raises alarms about its implications for public order and national security. This article delves into the government's rationale behind this decision and the broader impact on decentralized communication technologies.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 24, 2026, 20:02 IST

Government Action Against Bitchat

New Delhi: The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), part of the Home Ministry, has instructed GitHub, a Microsoft subsidiary, to take down the Bluetooth messaging application known as Bitchat, as per an official notice.

Jack Dorsey, the app's developer and former CEO of Twitter, shared on X that the Indian government is opposed to technologies like Bitchat and has mandated its removal, referencing a notice dated July 23.

A request for comment directed to I4C did not receive an immediate response.

The notice from I4C expressed concerns that Bitchat allows communication even when network services are restricted, posing a significant risk of misuse by anti-national groups, terrorist organizations, and cybercriminals who might seek to avoid detection and maintain communication despite legal restrictions.

I4C highlighted that the content hosted on GitHub is either illegal or being utilized for unlawful purposes. The agency has identified several applications that facilitate decentralized peer-to-peer messaging over Bluetooth networks, which do not depend on mobile networks, internet access, or centralized servers.

The application allows for anonymous communication without requiring user registration, phone number verification, or centralized logging of messages. This technical setup complicates lawful interception and investigation efforts by law enforcement.

This notice follows reports of users at a protest organized by the Cockroach Janata Party at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi utilizing Bluetooth messaging apps after the government imposed temporary internet restrictions in the area.

I4C noted that since communications occur directly between nearby devices via a decentralized mesh network, the platform could be misused to bypass lawful surveillance, enable anonymous coordination, and evade restrictions imposed by authorities during public disturbances, riots, or internet shutdowns.

Intelligence reports suggest that such decentralized communication tools could be exploited for organizing unlawful gatherings, violent protests, spreading misinformation, radicalization, and other activities detrimental to India's sovereignty, security, and public order.

The notice also pointed out that the lack of a centralized service provider hinders law enforcement's ability to access subscriber data, communication logs, or timely support during investigations.

The design of the application, which facilitates communication during network restrictions, poses a significant risk of misuse by anti-national elements, terrorist groups, organized crime, and cybercriminals aiming to avoid lawful detection.

In its communication to GitHub, I4C cited violations of Sections 43, 84B, and 84C of the IT Act, along with Sections 61, 196, and 197.