Indian Government Orders GitHub to Remove Jack Dorsey's Bitchat App Repositories

In a significant development, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has formally requested GitHub to take down the repositories associated with the Bitchat application. This messaging platform, created by Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter, utilizes Bluetooth mesh technology to facilitate communication without the need for traditional internet or cellular services. The Indian government has expressed concerns that Bitchat could be misused to organize illegal gatherings and bypass lawful restrictions during times of public unrest. According to a report from MoneyControl, an official directive issued on July 23 invoked Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act and Rule 3(1)(d) of the IT Rules, 2021. This order mandates GitHub to disable access to three specific Bitchat repositories within a tight timeframe of three hours.

The timing of this directive coincides with ongoing protests organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which have prompted authorities to impose restrictions, including the suspension of mobile internet services in certain areas of central Delhi, particularly around the Jantar Mantar site. These limitations have raised concerns regarding the impact on decentralized communication tools, which are designed to operate independently of internet or cellular networks. The official order describes Bitchat as a platform that enables decentralized peer-to-peer messaging using Bluetooth mesh networks, thereby eliminating reliance on mobile networks, internet connectivity, or centralized servers. Furthermore, the I4C highlighted that the app's design poses significant challenges for lawful interception and investigation by law enforcement agencies, complicating efforts to maintain public order.