Jack Dorsey’s decentralized messaging app, Bitchat, has been removed from Apple’s App Store and Google Play in India following a government order. The removal stems from a directive issued by India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, which empowers the government to block online content. Apple confirmed the order applies only to its Indian storefront, with Bitchat still accessible elsewhere, but the app is also blocked on India's TestFlight beta service, and its website has become inaccessible in the country.

Bitchat, launched in July 2025, facilitates encrypted messaging via Bluetooth mesh networking without requiring internet or centralized servers. Indian authorities have previously targeted the app, ordering GitHub to remove its repositories in July 2026 due to concerns over the app’s resistance to government monitoring and use during internet shutdowns. These restrictions have ignited debate around the legal grounds for banning software based on its capabilities to operate offline and secure communications.

Digital rights organizations like the Internet Freedom Foundation contend the government's action is unconstitutional, highlighting that Section 69A permits blocking of unlawful information but not an entire messaging platform. The group criticized the lack of transparency, noting that the specific illegal content cited for the ban has not been disclosed. The enforcement coincides with mounting protests among India’s youth over voter roll revisions, where Bitchat saw a surge in popularity as it enabled communication amid internet blackouts during demonstrations.

The Indian government’s crackdown on Bitchat occurs in a volatile socio-political climate marked by internet shutdowns and police detentions amid nationwide protests. With roughly 85% of Bitchat’s global downloads between mid- and late July 2026 originating from India, the app’s removal marks a significant development in the country’s ongoing tensions between digital freedom and state control of communication platforms. Apple, Google, and Indian IT officials have not publicly commented on the ban.