India Orders Apple to Remove Bitchat; App Also Unavailable on Google Play

India’s government ordered Apple to remove Bitchat, an encrypted messaging app designed to work without internet access, as protests over voter rolls renewed attention to communications during shutdowns.

Apple’s notice cited Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, which gives the government authority to order online content blocked. Bitchat remains available through Apple’s store outside India. The app was also unavailable for download through Google Play in India, and its website could not be accessed through several internet providers in the country.

Bitchat uses Bluetooth mesh networking to let nearby devices exchange encrypted messages without cellular service, internet access or centralized servers. In July, Indian authorities ordered GitHub to remove repositories linked to the app, citing concerns that its design could make it difficult for law enforcement to intercept communications or trace users.

The latest restriction comes amid protests over changes to India’s voter rolls. Authorities suspended internet service around New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar for 12 hours Friday during demonstrations. Demonstrators reportedly turned to Bitchat and the messaging app Briar during July protests after authorities suspended internet service.

India accounted for about 85% of Bitchat’s global downloads from July 17 to July 23, up from roughly 1% in the preceding 30 days.

The Internet Freedom Foundation, a New Delhi-based digital rights group, called the order unconstitutional. It argued that Section 69A allows the government to block unlawful information, but not an entire messaging app because it can operate during internet shutdowns. The group also said the blocking order and the allegedly illegal content cited as its basis had not been made public.