India Targets Decentralized Messaging App Bitchat Over Surveillance Concerns
India's authorities have ordered GitHub to remove several repositories related to Bitchat, a decentralized messaging app created by Jack Dorsey. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre cited concerns that Bitchat's lack of central server and reliance on Bluetooth technology makes it difficult for law enforcement to intercept communications.
Bitchat allows users to exchange encrypted messages between nearby phones without internet or phone number requirements, making it a potential tool for communication during network outages or crisis situations. The app also has an additional feature that enables users to carry offline signed BTC transactions and relay them from phone to phone, eventually broadcasting them to the Bitcoin network.
The decision comes amidst student protests in New Delhi, where internet shutdowns were reportedly imposed around some gatherings, pushing participants towards offline-capable tools like Bitchat. This scenario recalls the adoption of Bitchat by protesters in Nepal and Indonesia, where authorities' efforts to cut traditional channels drove users towards decentralized solutions.