New Delhi, India – The Indian government has ordered Microsoft-owned GitHub to remove the Bluetooth-based messaging application Bitchat, citing serious national security concerns. The notice, issued by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, comes after reports that protesters at the Jantar Mantar demonstration used decentralized messaging apps to circumvent internet restrictions. The app’s developer, former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, confirmed the order in a post on X on Friday, sharing a copy of the notice.
In its directive, I4C stated that Bitchat enables communication through a decentralized peer-to-peer mesh network using Bluetooth, without relying on mobile networks, internet connectivity, or centralized servers. The app does not require mandatory user registration, phone number verification, or central logging, which I4C argued “significantly impedes lawful interception, attribution, and investigation by law enforcement agencies.” The notice warned that such platforms can be exploited for coordinating unlawful assemblies, violent protests, misinformation, radicalization, and other activities prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India.
The action follows the government’s temporary suspension of internet services around Jantar Mantar, where several protesters were observed using Bluetooth-based messaging apps to stay connected. I4C’s notice to GitHub highlighted that Bitchat violates Sections 43, 84B, and 84C of the Information Technology Act, as well as Section 61 read with 196 and 197 of the Indian Penal Code. The notice emphasized that the app’s design “creates a substantial risk of misuse by anti-national elements, terrorist organizations, organized criminal groups, and cybercriminals seeking to evade lawful detection.”
The move is part of a broader government effort to monitor and control decentralized communication tools that can bypass traditional surveillance. By ordering GitHub to remove the app, the government aims to restrict access to a platform it views as a potential tool for coordinating activities that could disrupt public order. The notice cited intelligence inputs indicating that such platforms are “capable of being exploited” for illegal purposes, including during situations involving public disorder, terrorism, or internet shutdowns. The government’s action underscores its determination to regulate digital communication tools that fall outside the purview of conventional law enforcement and surveillance mechanisms.
