The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Home Ministry, has ordered GitHub to remove the Bluetooth-based messaging app Bitchat. Former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, the app's developer, shared the notice, stating, "The Government of India does not like technologies like Bitchat and wants it taken down." The I4C notice, dated July 23, 2026, highlights that Bitchat enables communication without relying on mobile networks or the internet, posing a significant risk of misuse by anti-national elements, terrorist organizations, and criminal groups seeking to evade lawful detection.

The application allows anonymous communication without mandatory user registration or phone number verification, and its decentralized architecture impedes lawful interception and investigation by law enforcement agencies. The I4C pointed to the app's use during a protest at Jantar Mantar where internet services were restricted. The notice asserts that such platforms can be exploited for coordinating unlawful assemblies, violent protests, spreading misinformation, and other activities prejudicial to India's security and integrity.

The I4C stated that Bitchat violates Sections 43, 84B, and 84C of the IT Act and Section 61 read with 196 and 197. The absence of a centralized service provider further limits law enforcement's ability to obtain subscriber information or timely assistance.