Apple has removed Jack Dorsey's offline messaging app, Bitchat, from its App Store in India following an order from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The ministry issued the directive under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, saying the app contained content considered illegal in India.
Bitchat is a decentralized, peer-to-peer messaging service that uses Bluetooth mesh networks to let users communicate without an internet connection.
The removal follows a government action in July 2026, when authorities ordered GitHub to block repositories hosting Bitchat's code. Officials raised concerns that the app's architecture could impede lawful interception and be used to circumvent communication restrictions during public order situations.