India Demands GitHub Remove Jack Dorsey’s Bitchat Code

The directive, shared by Jack Dorsey on July 24, demands the removal of Bitchat’s open-source code, Android application, and release files. Government officials argue that the app’s Bluetooth-based mesh network—which operates without centralized infrastructure or user identity verification—obstructs lawful interception and could facilitate criminal activity during state-mandated internet blackouts. The notice invokes Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, threatening GitHub with the loss of its legal protections if it fails to comply.

Digital rights organizations, including the Internet Freedom Foundation, have denounced the order as unconstitutional. Critics contend that Section 79 does not grant the government authority to block an entire software project. Legal experts point out that the statute is distinct from Section 69A, the formal legal mechanism for blocking online content. The controversy coincides with ongoing demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, where protesters have utilized Bitchat as a fallback for communication after police activated mobile jammers and suspended internet access.

While the removal of the repositories would restrict access to the official source files, the decentralized nature of Bitchat ensures that existing installations and alternative mirrors remain functional. The app’s architecture, which routes encrypted messages across devices via Bluetooth, remains outside the reach of centralized takedowns. Similar pressure against the platform occurred in China earlier this year, when authorities forced Apple to remove the application from its domestic App Store.