Apple Removes Jack Dorsey’s Bitchat from India App Store Following MeitY Order

Apple has removed Bitchat, a messaging application developed by Jack Dorsey, from its India App Store following a takedown order reportedly issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), according to a claim by the tech entrepreneur.

Dorsey shared a screenshot on X of an email purportedly sent by Apple’s App Review team, stating that the Indian government had ordered the app’s removal from the country’s App Store.

According to the communication shared by Dorsey, Apple informed the developer that the takedown request had been issued by MeitY under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, on the grounds that the application allegedly contained content considered illegal under Indian law.

The notice reportedly stated that apps distributed through Apple’s platform must comply with the legal requirements of every jurisdiction in which they are available. It also indicated that Bitchat would remain accessible in other markets selected by the developer, despite its removal from the India App Store.

Apple’s communication further said that the app’s TestFlight beta versions would no longer be available for testing in India and that public TestFlight links would cease to function in the country. Developers were reportedly advised to contact MeitY directly for further details about the order.

Bitchat is an offline messaging application that enables peer-to-peer communication through Bluetooth networks without requiring an internet connection or central servers.

In July, the government had also directed GitHub to remove repositories hosting Bitchat, citing concerns that the decentralised messaging platform could be used to evade lawful surveillance and facilitate unlawful activities.