Apple pulled Bitchat from the India App Store on Saturday, following a notice from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology that the app violated Section 69(A) of the Information Technology Act. The notice, sent by Apple’s App Review Team, claimed the app "includes content that is illegal in India" and demanded removal.
Bitchat, the Bluetooth‑based messaging app built by Jack Dorsey, had already been targeted earlier in July when the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre ordered GitHub to delete the app. The July notice cited the app’s ability to bypass network restrictions, flagging it as a risk for anti‑national elements, terrorist groups, and cybercriminals.
The ministry’s statement highlighted that decentralized mesh‑network communication could facilitate anonymous coordination and evade lawful surveillance, citing violations of Sections 43, 84B, 84C and 61 of the IT Act. It warned that the lack of a centralised provider hampers law‑enforcement access to subscriber data.
Apple clarified that while Bitchat will stay available in other territories, the TestFlight version will be disabled in India and all public TestFlight links will cease to function. Developers are invited to contact MeitY directly for clarification on compliance.
For users in India, the removal means instant loss of a tool that had been used by protestors at the Cockroach Janata Party rally in New Delhi. Dorsey tweeted a screenshot of the notice and called out the ministry’s action, hinting at a broader push against decentralized messaging platforms.
The next step is clear: Apple will enforce continued compliance across its app ecosystem, and developers can appeal by engaging with the ministry. If Bitchat’s legal team chooses to contest the order, a court hearing could follow, but Apple remains committed to adhering to local regulations.