The government has instructed GitHub to take down repositories hosting Bitchat, a decentralized messaging app, due to fears that it could be used to avoid legal surveillance and support illegal activities. Developer Jack Dorsey revealed this directive from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Information Technology Act and the Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code. GitHub has been asked to block access to the identified repositories within three hours, as per the notice shared by Dorsey.
Bitchat allows decentralized peer-to-peer messaging via Bluetooth mesh networks without depending on mobile networks, the internet, or centralized servers, posing challenges for lawful interception and investigation by law enforcement. The platform’s structure could potentially be exploited for organizing illegal gatherings, inciting violence, spreading misinformation, fueling radicalization, and aiding criminal schemes that endanger India’s sovereignty, security, and public order, according to intelligence inputs cited in the notice.
Citing specific legal provisions, the order invokes sections of the Information Technology Act and the Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code, along with relevant Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita clauses. This action coincides with the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protests in Delhi, where mobile internet services were temporarily suspended, leading to a surge in interest in decentralized communication tools that operate independently of internet or cellular connections.
Bitchat utilizes Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mesh networking to enable encrypted message relay among nearby smartphones, allowing messages to travel longer distances as more devices join the network. Unlike mainstream messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal, Bitchat does not mandate user registration or internet access, making it suitable for use during network disruptions but also challenging for monitoring by authorities. The government has directed GitHub to remove or restrict access to three repositories associated with the Bitchat project, including the primary repository and its Android version.
