Policy · Professional & Local Services

Indian govt orders GitHub to remove bitchat repos

By Startup Enthusiast · 24 July 2026

What they do

Bitchat is an open-source messaging app that uses Bluetooth mesh networking to work without internet or central servers

India's I4C ordered GitHub to remove three bitchat repositories, citing risks of misuse for unlawful acts and difficulty in surveillance

The takedown came amid student protests over a NEET paper leak, and follows proposed rules to tighten government control over online content

Jack Dorsey claimed the Indian government ordered GitHub to remove bitchat repositories.
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) issued a notice on July 23 directing GitHub to disable three URLs within three hours.
The targeted URLs were the main source code repository, the Android app repository, and the Android releases page.
The takedown request came amid student protests over an alleged NEET paper leak.
The home ministry suspended mobile internet within 1.5 km of Jantar Mantar in Delhi, citing public safety.
I4C said bitchat makes lawful interception, attribution, and investigation difficult for law enforcement.
I4C argued that platforms like bitchat could be misused to evade surveillance, bypass internet shutdowns, and coordinate unlawful acts.
I4C cited intelligence inputs that decentralised platforms could be exploited for unlawful assemblies, violence, misinformation, radicalisation, and criminal conspiracies.

bitchat is an open-source messaging app that uses Bluetooth mesh networking.
It does not require internet or central servers to operate.
It enables peer-to-peer communication without telecom networks or centralised infrastructure.
It allows anonymous communication without registration, phone verification, or centralised logging.