India orders GitHub to block Bitchat repos

The Indian government has ordered the removal of repositories for Bitchat, a decentralized messaging application developed by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, citing concerns that its architecture could hinder law enforcement investigations and be misused during public order situations. The directive was issued on July -23, 2026, by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre under the Ministry of Home Affairs, which gave GitHub three hours to disable access to three specific Bitchat repositories.

The government notice, which Dorsey shared on the social media platform X, invoked Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and Rule 3(1)(d) of the Information Technology Rules, 2021. It described Bitchat as a platform enabling peer-to-peer messaging over Bluetooth mesh networks without reliance on mobile networks, internet connectivity, or centralized servers. Authorities argued this design significantly impedes lawful interception, user identification, and the investigation of offenses. The notice expressed apprehension that such platforms could be exploited to coordinate unlawful assemblies, spread misinformation, or facilitate criminal and terrorist activities,...