Govt orders GitHub to take down BitChat repositories amid CJP protests at Jantar Mantar: What we know
Follow UsIndia has reportedly asked GitHub to remove the BitChat app over security concerns.
BitChat lets users send messages without the internet or mobile network.
Jack Dorsey shared the notice and reacted to the reported takedown request.
The Indian government has reportedly directed GitHub to remove the BitChat app and related repositories from the platform. The authorities cited national security and law enforcement concerns as a reason for the removal of the app. The notice states the BitChat app allows the users to communicate through a decentralised Bluetooth mesh network and could be used during the ongoing student protest going on at Jantar Mantar to exchange anonymous messages while avoiding legal monitoring. Moreover, it can also be used to spread misinformation and coordinate unlawful activities during sensitive situations. Here’s everything you need to know about the reported BitChat app ban, the reasons behind it, and how the app works.
SurveyGovernment cites security concerns
The Ministry of Home Affairs has reportedly issued a notice to GitHub directing it to remove the BitChat app in India. The news was also confirmed by Jack Dorsey, the creator of BitChat, on his official X account.
According to the notice, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) said BitChat can be used to create a decentralised peer-to-peer messaging network without relying on mobile networks, the internet, or central servers.
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The authorities said protesters could use the app to communicate anonymously without signing up or verifying their phone numbers. They added that the platform could be misused to evade legal monitoring, plan illegal activities, spread misinformation, and organise public unrest during sensitive situations.
The notice further stated that because BitChat operates without a centralised system, it is difficult for law enforcement agencies to identify users, access chat records, or obtain timely assistance during investigations.
The authorities have also listed three GitHub repositories related to BitChat and instructed GitHub to remove or disable access to them within three hours of receiving the communication.
The notice further warned that intermediaries failing to comply with such directions could lose the legal protections available under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act and may face action under applicable laws.
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Jack Dorsey reacts
Following the government’s order, Jack Dorsey shared screenshots of the notice on X and wrote, ‘The government of India does not like technologies like BitChat and wants it taken down.’
the government of india does not like technologies like bitchat and wants it taken down pic.twitter.com/gjzMg1NGCi
— jack (@jack) July 24, 2026
How BitChat works
BitChat is a decentralised messaging app that allows the users to communicate with nearby devices over Bluetooth mesh networking. The messages do not require mobile data, Wi-Fi, or a central server to pass from one device to another as it runs on Bluetooth mesh networking.
Moreover, as the communication happens directly between participating devices, there is no central infrastructure storing user messages or account information. This architecture is designed to keep conversations working even when internet access is unavailable or restricted.
