India's Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) has issued a takedown notice to GitHub for three repositories of Bitchat, a messaging app created by Jack Dorsey that works without internet access. The notice, dated July 2026, cites the app's ability to function during network restrictions and its potential to impede lawful interception. Dorsey responded on X, saying the Indian government 'does not like technologies like Bitchat and wants them taken down.'
Why India targeted Bitchat
The I4C's action comes amid a wave of student protests in India triggered by the cancellation of the NEET-UG medical exam in May 2026 over a question paper leak. The protests gave rise to a new political group, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which organized demonstrations across several states. During these protests, authorities in some regions imposed mobile data blackouts and internet shutdowns to curb coordination. Bitchat, which relies on Bluetooth mesh networks and the Nostr protocol to relay messages without traditional internet, became a tool for protesters to stay connected. The Indian government's notice argues that the app's design undermines lawful interception and network controls.
The app's role in recent protests
Bitchat had already seen significant use in other countries facing connectivity restrictions. In September 2025, the app recorded nearly 50,000 downloads in a single day in Nepal during a government-imposed internet blackout. In January 2026, it was widely used in Iran amid similar network disruptions. In India, the app's adoption spiked as students and CJP supporters sought ways to communicate during the July 2026 protests. Sensor Tower data shows India accounted for a large share of Bitchat's downloads globally, though the company did not provide exact figures.
How Bitchat works without the internet
Bitchat requires no registration, phone number, or user account. It uses peer-to-peer encrypted messaging and forms local mesh networks over Bluetooth. When internet is available, it can fall back to Nostr relays. A panic feature lets users clear stored data instantly. The app is open source, and recent updates allow Android devices to share the installation file via Wi-Fi or Nearby Share, letting new users join even without internet access. Calle, the main developer of the Android version, called the Indian government's notice a 'positive review' of the app's effectiveness.
What happens next
GitHub has not publicly responded to the takedown request. The repositories remain online as of this writing. Dorsey's post on X has drawn attention to the standoff between a decentralized messaging tool and a government determined to maintain surveillance capabilities. The I4C's notice does not specify a deadline for removal, leaving the next move to GitHub and the open-source community that maintains Bitchat.
