🔒Bitchat Vanishes from Indian App Stores Under Gov Order
India's Gov Cracks Down on Decentralized Messaging
TL;DR
Bitchat, a decentralized messaging app, vanished from Apple and Google's app stores in India following a government order. The app's unique architecture, enabling offline and encrypted messaging, is cited as the reason for its removal.
Bitchat, a decentralized messaging app, has been removed from Apple and Google's app stores in India under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act. The app's architecture, which uses Bluetooth mesh networking and operates without internet access or centralized servers, makes it difficult for law enforcement to intercept communications. This move impacts users relying on Bitchat for secure, offline messaging, especially during internet shutdowns. Apple and Google have blocked access to the app through their stores and TestFlight in India, while Bitchat remains available globally. The Internet Freedom Foundation argues the order is unconstitutional, as it targets an app rather than unlawful content.
Key Points
Bitchat vanished from Apple and Google app stores in India under Section 69A of the IT Act.
The app uses Bluetooth mesh networking, allowing offline, encrypted messaging between devices.
Bitchat's architecture makes it hard for law enforcement to intercept communications or trace users.
The app's ability to operate during internet shutdowns is a key reason for its removal in India.
India accounted for about 85% of Bitchat's global downloads between July 17 and July 23.
Why It Matters
If you're using Bitchat for secure, offline messaging in India, you're out of luck. The app's unique architecture, which enables offline and encrypted communication, has made it a target for government regulation. This move impacts users relying on decentralized apps for privacy and security, especially during internet shutdowns.
Comments
Be the first to comment
Enjoyed this article?
Get it daily. 7am. Free. Reads in 5 minutes.
Join 3,549 builders reading daily.