The Indian government targets Bitchat, a Bluetooth mesh messaging app created to send encrypted messages and facilitate bitcoin transactions, as protesters in Delhi employ mesh networks to communicate during internet outages.
By Shaurya Malwa Jul 24, 2026, 10:10 a.m. 2 min readMake preferred on ShareShare this articleCopy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmailMake preferred on Jack Dorsey speaks at Consensus (CoinDesk)SummaryShow- India’s cybercrime unit has instructed GitHub to remove repositories associated with Bitchat, Jack Dorsey’s offline messaging platform, as protesters in Delhi utilize mesh-network tools to navigate ongoing internet shutdowns.
- Authorities argue that Bitchat’s decentralized and registration-free setup obstructs lawful interception and investigation, while demonstrators depend on it and similar Bluetooth mesh applications to organize during protests over an exam scandal.
- It remains uncertain if GitHub adhered to the three-hour deadline, as the app was still accessible on major app stores as of Friday, with experts noting that open-source code can often be replicated across various platforms.
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, a division of the Home Ministry, issued a takedown request for GitHub on Thursday under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, specifically naming three GitHub repositories linked to Bitchat and demanding action within three hours.
The notice, seen by CoinDesk, claims that the app allows for anonymous communication without the need for registration or phone numbers, and that its design "significantly impedes lawful interception, attribution, and investigation by law enforcement agencies."
Bitchat is a decentralized application that facilitates encrypted messaging via Bluetooth mesh networks, requiring no internet, servers, or accounts. Dorsey made it available as open-source software in July 2025.
This app is designed to transmit bitcoin transactions offline, relaying them from one device to another until a connected device can broadcast them to the wider network, ensuring that payments can continue during outages, disasters, or government-mandated shutdowns.
This feature is particularly valued by bitcoin advocates, allowing transactions without government or intermediary approval, and it is now being challenged by a government attempting to disable it.
Since July 20, various cities in India have experienced some of the largest protests in years, led by students under the banner of the ‘Cockroach Janta Party’—a jab at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)—against a national exam scandal, which has been met with police resistance, including tear gas and baton charges.
The government has repeatedly suspended internet access around the protest locations in New Delhi, and reports indicate that protesters have turned to Bluetooth mesh apps, including Bitchat, to maintain communication when internet access is lost.
The takedown order specifically targets a tool that has aided demonstrators in circumventing these shutdowns.
As of the time of publication, it was unclear whether GitHub had complied with the takedown request within the stipulated three-hour period. CoinDesk was able to access and download the application on both Google and Apple app stores on Friday afternoon in Asia.
GitHub, which is owned by Microsoft, has previously complied with Indian legal requests to remove repositories, and it is common for open-source projects to be mirrored on other platforms, meaning that a takedown often does not completely eliminate the code.