India’s cybercrime agency has ordered GitHub to remove all repositories for Bitchat, an offline messaging application built on Bluetooth mesh technology and linked to former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. The order, issued on July 24, 2026, targets the app because it has been used by protesters in Delhi to coordinate during internet shutdowns, according to official statements. Bitchat is designed to relay encrypted messages and bitcoin transactions without requiring an internet connection, leveraging Bluetooth to create a decentralized peer-to-peer network.
The app’s architecture makes it nearly impossible for authorities to intercept communications or trace users, as it does not require registration or a central server. This has alarmed Indian law enforcement, especially in the context of ongoing protests by the ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ — a group that has been demonstrating against a major exam scandal. During these protests, internet access has been repeatedly restricted by the government, prompting protesters to adopt mesh networking tools like Bitchat and Bridgefy to stay connected.
Jack Dorsey, who stepped down as CEO of Twitter in 2021 but remains a prominent figure in the cryptocurrency space, launched Bitchat in early 2025 as a side project under his Block company (formerly Square). The app was positioned as a tool for censorship-resistant communication and bitcoin transactions in regions with limited internet infrastructure. Dorsey has long been an advocate for decentralized technologies, investing heavily in bitcoin and blockchain initiatives. His vision for Bitchat was to create a communication platform that could operate independently of traditional telecom networks, enabling people in remote or repressive environments to exchange information and value.
The Indian government’s takedown order gives GitHub a three-hour deadline to comply. As of Friday, it remained unclear whether the platform had removed the repositories. The app was still available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in multiple regions, including India. The takedown highlights the ongoing tension between governments and decentralized technologies. Experts note that even if GitHub removes the repositories, the open-source nature of the code means it can be mirrored on other platforms such as GitLab, SourceForge, or self-hosted servers. This cat-and-mouse dynamic has become common as authoritarian and semi-authoritarian regimes struggle to control digital tools that empower dissidents.
Mesh networking has gained traction globally as a way to circumvent internet censorship. In Hong Kong, protesters used similar apps during the 2019-2020 anti-extradition movement. In Belarus and Iran, mesh tools have been deployed to share information during political unrest. India, the world’s largest democracy, has a complex relationship with internet freedoms. While it leads in digital payments and mobile connectivity, it also imposes frequent internet shutdowns — more than any other country. In 2022 alone, India accounted for over 60% of all internet shutdowns worldwide, according to the Internet Shutdown Tracker. The exam scandal protests, which began in early July 2026, have prompted authorities to cut internet in several districts of Delhi to prevent the spread of what they call “inflammatory content.”
Bitchat’s integration with bitcoin is another factor that raises regulatory concerns. The app allows users to send bitcoin transactions over the mesh network, enabling financial transfers without a bank or internet connection. This could potentially facilitate illicit activities, though Dorsey has emphasized the app’s use for financial inclusion. In India, cryptocurrency regulation remains murky. The government has imposed heavy taxes on crypto trades but has not banned ownership. The Reserve Bank of India has expressed concerns about the impact of decentralized finance on monetary stability. By linking Bitchat to bitcoin, Dorsey has positioned the app at the intersection of two controversial technologies: decentralized communication and decentralized finance.
The cybercrime agency’s order mentions that the app “thwarts lawful interception and investigation.” This is a common criticism of end-to-end encryption and decentralized systems. Law enforcement agencies around the world have pushed for backdoors in encrypted apps, but technical experts argue that such backdoors inevitably weaken security for all users. Bitchat’s mesh design goes a step further: even if authorities could break the encryption, they would still need to physically locate the nodes in the mesh to intercept messages. With the app not storing any user data on a central server, there is no single point of failure or surveillance.
Critics of the Indian government’s move argue that it targets the tool rather than the behavior. Instead of cracking down on a technology that has legitimate uses — such as during natural disasters when networks are down — the government is trying to prevent its use by protesters. This approach has been compared to banning phones because criminals use them. On the other hand, supporters of the ban contend that the app was explicitly designed to resist lawful orders, and that its use by protest groups constitutes a threat to public order.
The Bitchat takedown is not the first of its kind in India. In 2024, the government ordered the blocking of several websites distributing the Signal and Telegram messaging apps, though those orders were largely ineffective. Telegram itself was temporarily blocked in 2023 during a crackdown on anti-government channels. More recently, in 2025, India asked Apple to remove TikTok-like apps from its App Store in the country. These actions underscore the increasing assertiveness of India’s digital regulatory regime.
Jack Dorsey has not publicly commented on the Indian takedown order as of press time. However, his history on Twitter — where he famously stood up to government censorship requests — suggests he may resist or circumvent the ban. In 2021, Twitter clashed with the Indian government over content takedown orders related to farmer protests, resulting in a brief loss of legal immunity for the platform in India. Dorsey’s Block company has also been involved in legal battles with regulators over bitcoin mining and payment services. The Bitchat controversy may escalate into a larger confrontation between decentralized tech and state power.
The app remains available on app stores in other countries, but Indian users trying to download it may face restrictions if the country’s internet service providers block access to the app stores’ servers. Some Indian users have already reported that the Bitchat website is inaccessible from within the country. However, tech-savvy users can easily bypass such blocks using VPNs or by side-loading the app via APK files. The cat-and-mouse game between government bans and tech evasion is likely to continue.
From a technical standpoint, Bitchat uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to create a mesh network. When a user sends a message, it hops from device to device until it reaches the intended recipient. This is similar to how the Bridgefy app works, which was used in Hong Kong and has since been adopted by activists in other regions. Bitchat adds a bitcoin wallet and transaction capability, making it unique. The app’s code is open source, hosted on GitHub under an MIT license, which allows anyone to fork and modify it. This makes a complete takedown nearly impossible, as the code can be mirrored across multiple repositories and platforms.
The timing of the order is significant. It comes on the same day that India’s telecommunications department announced plans to test a “network shutdown” system that would allow it to selectively block internet access in designated areas during emergencies. Critics argue that such a system could be abused to crush dissent. The Bitchat takedown may be a precursor to more aggressive measures against mesh networking tools, which are seen as a threat to government control over information flow.
In response to the order, several digital rights organizations in India have condemned the move. The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) called it “a disproportionate attack on technological innovation and free expression.” Others have pointed out that the app has legitimate uses, such as by journalists working in conflict zones or by disaster relief teams. The IFF has also noted that the government’s order lacks legal clarity, as it does not specify which provisions of the Information Technology Act are being invoked. Under Indian law, the government can block content under Section 69A of the IT Act, but only for reasons of national security or public order. Critics argue that the mere use of an app by protesters does not meet that threshold.
The international community has also taken notice. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression has previously criticized India’s internet shutdowns. With the Bitchat order, India may face renewed scrutiny from human rights organizations. Meanwhile, the bitcoin community has rallied around Dorsey, with some developers already creating forks of the Bitchat code to ensure its availability. The situation illustrates the growing divide between state-centric surveillance and the ethos of decentralization that underpins much of the crypto world.
As of this writing, GitHub has not responded to requests for comment. The company, owned by Microsoft, has a history of complying with government takedown orders when they are legally valid, but has also resisted orders that it considers overly broad. In 2024, GitHub restored several repositories that had been taken down at the behest of Russian authorities. The Indian order may face a similar internal review. Regardless of GitHub’s decision, the Bitchat code will not disappear. The decentralized nature of both the app and its development community ensures that it will persist, even if it must go underground.
The broader implications of this takedown are profound. It signals that governments are beginning to understand the threat that mesh networking and peer-to-peer technologies pose to their surveillance capabilities. As these technologies become more sophisticated and user-friendly, we can expect more such clashes. The battle over Bitchat is not just about one app; it is about the future of communication in a world where governments have unprecedented power to control the internet.
Source: Coindesk News