As reported by Moneycontrol, the directive, dated July 23 and shared by Dorsey on X, invokes Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act and Rule 3(1)(d) of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. GitHub has been instructed to disable access to three Bitchat repositories within three hours.
This action coincides with ongoing protests by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) in Delhi, during which authorities have temporarily shut down mobile internet services in certain areas of central Delhi. These internet restrictions have sparked an interest in decentralized communication platforms that can operate without the need for mobile or internet connectivity.
According to the Moneycontrol report, I4C characterized Bitchat as a decentralized peer-to-peer messaging platform that allows communication over Bluetooth mesh networks without the dependence on mobile networks, internet access, or centralized servers.
The agency noted that the app’s architecture poses significant challenges for lawful interception, attribution, and investigation by law enforcement agencies. Intelligence reports have also indicated that such platforms could be misused to coordinate unlawful gatherings, incite violence, spread misinformation, support radicalization, enable criminal conspiracies, and engage in activities that may threaten India’s sovereignty, integrity, security, and public order.
The order specifies three GitHub repositories associated with the project, including the primary Bitchat repository and its Android version, instructing GitHub to remove or restrict access to them.
Bitchat was introduced by Dorsey as an open-source messaging application that facilitates communication between nearby devices without internet access, phone numbers, or centralized servers. Dorsey has also shown support for decentralized social media platforms, including Bluesky.
