Apple removes Bitchat from India App Store after government order

Apple has removed Bitchat, an offline messaging app backed by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, from its App Store in India following a government takedown order.

Dorsey shared a screenshot of the notice on X, writing that the Indian government had "officially" removed the app. According to the document, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) demanded the removal under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, claiming the app "includes content that is illegal in India".

While the block prevents Apple users in India from downloading Bitchat, the app remains available on App Stores in other countries. However, Apple has also disabled the app's TestFlight version in India, meaning developers can no longer use the platform for internal or external beta testing, and all public test links have ceased to work.

Neither Apple nor the ministry has specified exactly what content was deemed illegal, or which specific ground under Section 69A was triggered. Apple's notice simply advised the developers to contact MeitY directly to discuss the legal requirements.

Why the app is a target

Bitchat’s core technology is what makes it highly resilient—and highly concerning to state security agencies. It is a decentralised, peer-to-peer messaging tool that requires no internet connection, no SIM cards, and no central servers to function.

Instead, it relies on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to connect devices directly within a range of 30 to 100 metres. These devices can then relay messages across multiple "hops", effectively building an ad-hoc mesh network. This allows users to keep communicating even when cellular services and Wi-Fi networks are completely shut down.

Because the app does not rely on traditional infrastructure, it operates outside the scope of standard telecommunications interception and monitoring tools used by law enforcement.

A history of crackdowns

This is not the first time the Indian government has targeted Bitchat. In July, during protests organised by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) over exam paper leaks, authorities moved to restrict the app's distribution.

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which sits under the Union home ministry, ordered the software development platform GitHub to block access to three Bitchat code repositories. The platform was given a three-hour window to comply.

The I4C argued that the app created a substantial risk of being misused by "anti-national elements, terrorist organisations, organised criminal groups and cybercriminals" looking to evade detection and bypass network restrictions. During the July protests at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, demonstrators were reportedly seen using Bluetooth-based messaging apps to coordinate after the government suspended mobile internet services in the area.

Apple's guidelines state that developers are responsible for understanding and complying with all local laws, which exist "over and above" Apple's own app review standards. With the App Store block, the government has shut down the primary distribution channel for iOS users in India, though the app's website and Android versions appear unaffected.