Indian authorities have directed GitHub to remove repositories associated with Bitchat, an open-source messaging application linked to former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. The move comes amid ongoing student protests in New Delhi, where demonstrators have relied on offline communication tools to coordinate activities despite temporary network restrictions.

Background of the Takedown Order

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C),under the Ministry of Home Affairs, issued the directive on July 23, 2026, giving GitHub a three-hour window to disable access to three Bitchat repositories. The order was issued under Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and related rules.

Officials expressed concerns that the app’s design — which enables encrypted message transmission over Bluetooth mesh networks without requiring internet access, accounts, phone numbers, or central servers — hinders lawful interception and investigations. Bitchat also supports offline relay of Bitcoin transactions, passing data between devices until one with connectivity can broadcast it to the network.

Protests related to alleged irregularities in the 2026 NEET national examination have drawn large crowds in central Delhi. Authorities imposed mobile internet suspensions in areas around Jantar Mantar and Connaught Place, leading some participants to adopt mesh networking applications like Bitchat for continued coordination.

Response from Dorsey and Digital Rights Advocates

Dorsey shared screenshots of the government notice on X, stating that Indian authorities do not favor technologies like Bitchat.

The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) condemned the order as unconstitutional and authoritarian. The group argued that the notice misuses Section 79 provisions, which do not constitute a formal blocking power under Supreme Court precedents, and fails to specify any particular unlawful content in the repositories.

IFF further noted that removing repositories from GitHub would not disable apps already installed on users’ devices or prevent the mesh network from functioning offline. The organization called for withdrawal of the notice and greater transparency regarding similar orders.

App Features and Global Context

Launched in July 2025 as open-source software, Bitchat uses Bluetooth Low Energy to relay messages hop-by-hop across nearby devices, supporting up to seven hops without connectivity. It also integrates with the Nostr protocol for online use while maintaining independent offline capabilities.

Similar tools have seen increased adoption during disruptions in countries including Madagascar, Nepal, Uganda, Indonesia, Iran, and Jamaica. In April 2026, Chinese authorities directed Apple to remove Bitchat from its App Store over concerns related to public opinion and social mobilization.

As of the latest reports, it remains unclear whether GitHub fully complied with the deadline. The app continues to be available on Google Play and Apple App Stores, and open-source code is frequently mirrored across other platforms.

The episode highlights ongoing tensions between government efforts to maintain control over communications during periods of unrest and the development of resilient, decentralized technologies.