India Demands GitHub Remove Bitchat Repositories

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre has officially requested GitHub to restrict access to repositories associated with Bitchat, a decentralized messaging application developed by Jack Dorsey. This request was communicated on July 23 and highlights concerns over the app's capacity for anonymous communication without the need for registration or phone numbers, which complicates law enforcement's ability to conduct investigations.

As reported by Business Today, the notification cites Section 79(3)(b) of India's Information Technology Act and Rule 3(1)(d) of the IT Rules 2021. Bitchat operates using two communication methods: a Bluetooth mesh network for offline use and the Nostr protocol for online connectivity, as outlined in its project description on GitHub.

CoinDesk linked the Indian government’s actions to recent protests in Delhi concerning leaked exam materials, where demonstrators faced police confrontations. Reports indicated that some protesters resorted to Bluetooth applications for communication due to temporary internet restrictions in the area.

In response to the government's demand, Dorsey remarked that authorities are opposed to technologies like Bitchat. He tweeted, "the government of india does not like technologies like bitchat and wants it taken down." As of now, the Bitchat repository remains accessible on GitHub.

GitHub's policy allows for content restrictions based on legal requirements in specific jurisdictions, typically through geoblocking measures. This isn't the first time Bitchat has faced scrutiny; earlier this year, Apple removed the app from the Chinese App Store under orders from Chinese authorities.

Since its beta release in July 2025, Bitchat has been instrumental in facilitating communication during protests in various countries, including Indonesia and Nepal, and even topped the social networking category in Jamaica's App Store following a hurricane.