Indian regulators have ordered GitHub to remove the Bitchat code repository. Developed by Jack Dorsey, the app focuses on offline encrypted communication and can also relay Bitcoin transactions via Bluetooth mesh networks. This comes as protests continue in several parts of India, with some demonstrators using such tools to circumvent temporary internet outages.

India has demanded that GitHub remove the app.

According to a notice reviewed by CoinDesk, the Cybercrime Coordination Agency under the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs issued an order on Thursday evening local time, naming three GitHub repositories related to Bitchat and requiring the platform to cease access within three hours.

The notice stated that Bitchat does not require registration, phone numbers, or centralized logs, allowing anonymous communication. This architecture would significantly increase the difficulty for law enforcement in wiretapping, attribution, and investigation, and therefore required action.

As of the time of publication, it was unclear whether GitHub had executed the command within the time limit. CoinDesk reported that the app was still available for download on Google and Apple's app stores during Friday's Asian trading session.

The application can send messages and conduct Bitcoin transactions offline.

Bitchat is a decentralized communication application that allows mobile phones to forward encrypted messages via a Bluetooth mesh network, without relying on the internet, servers, or account systems. Jack Dorsey released it as open source software in July 2025.

In addition to messaging, the app is also designed to relay Bitcoin transactions offline. Transaction information can be passed between devices one by one until a device that has reconnected to the network broadcasts it to the Bitcoin network.

This design was originally intended for scenarios involving power outages, disasters, or network disruptions. Now, it has also entered into a direct conflict between government network regulation and decentralized tools.

Increased use of network tools during protests

Since July 20, several Indian cities have witnessed some of the largest student protests in recent years, sparked by a nationwide examination scandal. The report mentions that internet outages occurred repeatedly at some protest sites in the capital, New Delhi, and researchers recorded demonstrators turning to Bluetooth mesh applications to maintain communication, including Bitchat.

In this context, the regulatory order actually targets one of the tools that helps circumvent internet restrictions. Even if the relevant repositories are removed, open-source projects usually continue to exist on other platforms or mirror sites, and removing them from a single platform often fails to completely eliminate the code.

• The removal order invokes Section 79(3)(b) of the Indian Information Technology Act.
• The entities named were three GitHub code repositories.
• The app is still available on major app stores as of press time.