India has ordered Apple to remove Bitchat, Jack Dorsey’s decentralized messaging app, from the country’s App Store under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act. Apple said the app would remain available elsewhere, but its TestFlight beta access was also blocked in India. TechCrunch also found Bitchat unavailable on Google Play and its website inaccessible through several Indian internet service providers. Bitchat uses Bluetooth mesh networking to exchange encrypted messages between nearby devices without cellular service, internet access, or a central server. The latest action follows an earlier Indian order targeting GitHub repositories linked to the open-source app. Digital-rights group Internet Freedom Foundation called the new restriction unconstitutional, saying the government had not published the blocking order or identified unlawful content. The decision matters because it targets software designed to keep communications working during internet shutdowns.

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Jack Dorsey's Bitchat disappears from app stores in India after government order | TechCrunch

Bitchat has become largely unavailable in India as a result of the restrictions.