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Apple removes Jack Dorsey's Bitchat from App Store in India

Apple has pulled the offline Bluetooth messaging app Bitchat from its App Store in India following a government order, according to Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey.

Portrait of Jack Dorsey alongside the logo and name of the offline messaging app Bitchat.
Image: @coinbureau

Apple has taken down Jack Dorsey's offline Bluetooth messaging app, Bitchat, from its App Store in India in response to a government request, Dorsey reported. Apple cited an order issued by India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under the IT Act.[1][3][4]

Bitchat enables users to communicate directly over Bluetooth without an active internet connection. The app drew scrutiny from Indian authorities after it surged in popularity during nationwide Gen Z-led protests earlier this year. As a result of the ongoing restrictions, the service has become largely unavailable in the country.[2][4]

The App Store removal marks the latest enforcement measure against the platform. Indian authorities previously targeted Bitchat's GitHub repositories in July and reportedly ordered Google to remove the app from the Play Store, alongside rival offline messaging tools Briar and Bridgefy.[3][4]

Key facts

  • Apple removed the offline Bluetooth messaging app Bitchat from the App Store in India at the request of the Indian government.
  • Apple cited an order from India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under the IT Act.
  • Bitchat allows users to message over Bluetooth without an internet connection.
  • The app grew popular during nationwide Gen Z-led protests in India earlier in the year.
  • Indian authorities previously targeted Bitchat's GitHub repositories in July.
  • India reportedly instructed Google to remove Bitchat, Briar, and Bridgefy from the Play Store.
  • Restrictions have made Bitchat largely unavailable across India.

Sources · 4 sources

  1. BT

    Business Today@business_todayPost on X ·

    #TechToday | Apple removes Jack Dorsey’s Bitchat from India App Store, cites MeitY order under IT act https://t.co/DDSqJZGEA3

    Open source
  2. TE

    TechCrunch@TechCrunchPost on X ·

    Bitchat has become largely unavailable in India as a result of the restrictions. https://t.co/fED8SEevrN

    Open source
  3. CN

    crypto.news@cryptodotnewsPost on X ·

    BREAKING: Jack Dorsey’s Bitchat removed from the App Store in India Apple pulled the offline Bluetooth messaging app following a government request, after Indian authorities had already targeted its GitHub repositories earlier this year. https://t.co/GEdQmwF89z

    Open source
  4. CB

    Coin Bureau@coinbureauPost on X ·

    🚨BREAKING: Bitchat has been officially removed from India’s Apple App Store by the government’s request, according to Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey. The app, which lets users communicate over Bluetooth without an internet connection, came under government scrutiny after gaining popularity during the nationwide Gen Z-led protests earlier this year. India had already targeted Bitchat’s GitHub repositories in July and reportedly ordered Google to remove it from the Play Store, alongside Briar and Bridgefy.

    Open source