India Orders GitHub to Delete Bitchat Repositories

India's Ministry of Home Affairs orders GitHub to remove Bitchat repositories amid protests, citing security concerns over decentralized mesh communication.

The decision comes amid ongoing protests in the country, highlighting a fresh clash between encrypted communications, state control, and digital rights.

Authorities Demand Removal of the Project from GitHub

On July 23, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, issued an order to Microsoft-owned GitHub. The directive requested the removal of three repositories linked to Bitchat: the project’s core code, the Android version, and the release page.

According to reporting by The Hindu, the platform was given a tight three-hour window to restrict access to the content.

The order cites Section 79(3)(b) of the Indian Information Technology Act and Rule 3(1)(d) of its associated implementation rules.

What is Bitchat?

Bitchat is an encrypted messaging application that operates via a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) network between devices. It functions without an internet connection, phone number, SIM card, or central server.

Instead of relying on traditional internet infrastructure, the app builds a mesh network where devices relay messages to one another. This specific architecture sits at the heart of the Indian authorities’ concerns.

According to the I4C notice, the absence of a central server and the capability for encrypted device-to-device communication “significantly hinder lawful interception, user identification, and the conduct of investigations.”

Decision Follows Protests and Internet Blackouts

The actions by Indian authorities coincide with ongoing student protests in New Delhi, including demonstrations related to the CJP initiative and NEET exams.

During some of these protests, mobile internet was temporarily suspended in parts of the Indian capital, with officials citing the need to maintain public order.

Authorities argue that applications like Bitchat could allow protesters to maintain communication despite internet blackouts. They claim this creates a risk for coordinating illegal activities, bypassing state control, and spreading misinformation.

Jack Dorsey Criticizes the Move

Jack Dorsey shared a copy of the government order via

“The Government of India does not like technologies like Bitchat and wants them removed.”

His statement quickly sparked reactions among digital rights advocates and open-source software developers.

Organizations such as the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) described the authorities’ actions as contrary to the principles of a free internet, criticizing the attempt to restrict access to an open-source project.

New Pressure on Decentralized Technologies

This case marks the second major hurdle for Bitchat this year, following Apple’s removal of the app from its App Store in China back in April.

However, unlike the Chinese incident, India’s actions target not just the distribution of the app, but its source code hosted on GitHub. This represents a broader attempt to limit access to the project itself.

The development illustrates how decentralized communication technologies are increasingly at the center of a conflict between governments demanding greater surveillance powers and developers building systems that operate without central control.