Internet Freedom Foundation calls India’s BitChat GitHub takedown order ‘unconstitutional’
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India’s Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) has strongly criticized a government order demanding GitHub remove repositories for BitChat, a decentralized messaging app created by Jack Dorsey. The Indian cybercrime agency issued the takedown directive, requiring access to three BitChat repositories be disabled within three hours. The government expressed concerns that BitChat could be used to circumvent internet shutdowns, avoid lawful surveillance, and facilitate illegal activities.
IFF condemned the order as unconstitutional and exceeding the government's legal authority because it was issued under Section 79(3)(b) of India’s Information Technology Act rather than following the established website-blocking procedures, which incorporate formal procedural safeguards. The group urged the government to rescind the notice and publicly disclose all takedown orders made under this provision. They also challenged the justification given, pointing out that the government did not cite any unlawful content within the repositories. Instead, the order appeared based solely on BitChat’s decentralized architecture, which allows messages to be routed directly between devices over Bluetooth without internet or centralized servers.
BitChat enables encrypted messaging between nearby devices without relying on internet connectivity or central servers. Since its July 2025 release, the app has found increased use during protests, natural disasters, and internet outages in several countries, including Madagascar, Nepal, Uganda, Jamaica, and Iran. Its unique design has led to spikes in adoption during times of unrest and shutdowns, underscoring its role as a communication tool in restricted environments.
The IFF's critique highlights concerns that the government is targeting a technology for its architectural features rather than specific illegal content, which could set a troubling precedent for free speech and open-source software in India. The organization’s call for transparency and adherence to proper legal frameworks aims to safeguard constitutional rights and maintain openness in digital platforms.