Archive · 27 Jul 2026
Government Orders GitHub to Remove Bitchat App
The Indian government recently ordered GitHub to remove the source code of a messaging app called Bitchat.
This app allows people to communicate using Bluetooth without needing the internet, which has been useful for protesters during internet shutdowns.
The government says the app makes it hard for them to track communication and could be used by bad actors.
However, critics argue that the government is overstepping by trying to control this communication tool, especially when it's used by citizens to organize and communicate during protests.
The app is still available on Google Play, and critics say the government's order is more about controlling communication than addressing any specific illegal activity.
The Indian government ordered GitHub to remove the source code of Bitchat, a Bluetooth mesh messaging app.
Bitchat allows encrypted communication between nearby devices without needing the internet.
The government argues that the app impedes lawful interception and surveillance, making it difficult to track communication during public disorder or internet shutdowns.
Critics say the order is unconstitutional and authoritarian, as it restricts communication tools used by citizens to bypass internet shutdowns.
The app is still available on Google Play, and critics argue that the government's order is more about controlling communication than addressing specific illegal activity.
- Who
- Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs
- What
- Ordered GitHub to remove three pages hosting the source code of Bitchat, a Bluetooth mesh messaging app
- When
- July 23, close to midnight
- Where
- India
- Why
- The government believes Bitchat impedes lawful interception and surveillance, and can be misused by anti-national elements and criminal groups
Government's Perspective
Critics' Perspective
Lawful Interception and Surveillance
Government's Perspective
The government argues that Bitchat impedes lawful interception, attribution, and investigation by law enforcement agencies, making it difficult to track communication during public disorder or internet shutdowns.
Critics' Perspective
Critics argue that the government's order is unconstitutional and authoritarian, as it restricts communication tools that citizens use to bypass internet shutdowns imposed by the government.
National Security Concerns
Government's Perspective
The government believes that Bitchat's design creates a substantial risk of misuse by anti-national elements, terrorist organizations, and organized criminal groups.
Critics' Perspective
Critics contend that the government's concerns are overstated and that the app is primarily used by protesters to communicate during internet shutdowns.
- Date of Order
- July 23
- Issuing Authority
- Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)
- Platform Affected
- GitHub
- App Name
- Bitchat
- Type of App
- Bluetooth mesh messaging app
- Laws Violated
- Sections 43, 84B, 84C of the IT Act, 2000, and Section 61 read with Sections 196 and 197 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
- Critics' Response
- Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) criticized the order as unconstitutional and authoritarian