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Jack Dorsey’s Bitchat disappears from app stores in India after government order

Jack Dorsey’s decentralized messaging app Bitchat has been removed from app stores in India following a government order, citing its potential for circumvention of law enforcement during internet shutdowns. The app, which relies on Bluetooth mesh networking, was previously accessible to Indian users but is now unavailable, raising concerns among digital rights advocates about the legality of the ban.

Key points

  • Bitchat, a decentralized messaging app by Jack Dorsey, designed to work without internet connectivity, was removed from Apple's App Store and Google Play in India following a government order.
  • The Indian government issued the order under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, citing security concerns due to Bitchat's ability to function during internet shutdowns.
  • Bitchat was previously available and saw a spike in downloads in India amid protests, with the country accounting for 85% of global downloads during that period.
  • The Internet Freedom Foundation has criticized the government's action as unconstitutional, arguing it violates the rights to communication and lacks transparency regarding the reasoning behind the ban.
  • The current restrictions on Bitchat coincide with ongoing youth-led protests in India, where similar messaging apps were used to communicate when internet services were suspended.

Why it matters

  • The removal follows a pattern of increased censorship in India concerning digital communication tools, particularly amid political unrest and protests.
  • Digital rights advocates have raised concerns about government interference in technology and communication, contrasting the rise of decentralized platforms with traditional social media.
  • Amid increasing restrictions on digital freedoms, Bitchat's growing popularity reflects a shift towards privacy-conscious applications amid intense scrutiny from authorities.

The removal of Bitchat highlights the Indian government's stringent controls over digital communication, raising critical questions about free expression and the legality of such bans in a democracy.