July 24, 2026 at 04:19 PM 2 min readindiabreaking
Centre Directs GitHub to Remove Bluetooth Chat App Bitchat
Government Blocking Order:
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre under the Ministry of Home Affairs directed GitHub to disable access to repositories hosting the offline messaging application Bitchat. The directive was issued on July 23, 2026, invoking Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and Rule 3(1)(d) of the IT Rules, 2021, requiring takedown within three hours.
Security and Protests Context:
The crackdown coincides with ongoing student agitations at Jantar Mantar in central Delhi, where authorities frequently suspended mobile data services. Developed by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, Bitchat operates as an open-source, decentralized platform that utilizes Bluetooth Low Energy to connect nearby devices without relying on traditional telecom infrastructure.
Surveillance Concerns:
Intelligence inputs cited by the government warn that applications capable of operating during internet shutdowns create significant risks of misuse by anti-national elements and criminal groups. Law enforcement agencies argue that such peer-to-peer communication architectures severely obstruct lawful interception, attribution, and investigation during public disturbances.
Pulse Intelligence
Context & ImpactContext & Background
- Telecom authorities repeatedly suspended mobile data services in parts of central Delhi over the course of a week amid protests near Jantar Mantar.
- Jack Dorsey publicly shared the Ministry of Home Affairs takedown order targeting the GitHub repositories associated with Bitchat.
Key Consequences
- GitHub is required to disable access to the main source code and Android distribution pages linked to the Bitchat application.
- Law enforcement agencies gain reinforced authority to target decentralized communication tools utilized during regional internet shutdowns.
Market & Economic Impact
No direct market impact.
The Indus Pulse is committed to accuracy and transparency.