Government orders GitHub to remove Bluetooth-based chat app Bitchat: Jack Dorsey

政府下令 GitHub 下架基于蓝牙的聊天应用 Bitchat：杰克·多西 (Jack Dorsey)

The notice comes after several users participating in the Jantar Mantar protest were observed using Bluetooth-based messaging apps after the government imposed temporary restrictions on internet services. 在政府对互联网服务实施临时限制后，几名参加简塔·曼塔 (Jantar Mantar) 抗议活动的用户被发现使用了基于蓝牙的通讯应用，随后政府发布了此通知。

The Home Ministry’s cybercrime arm, the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), has ordered Microsoft subsidiary GitHub to remove the Bluetooth-based messaging application Bitchat, according to a notice. 根据一份通知显示，内政部下属的网络犯罪部门——印度网络犯罪协调中心 (I4C) 已下令微软子公司 GitHub 下架基于蓝牙的通讯应用 Bitchat。

“The Government of India does not like technologies like Bitchat and wants it taken down,” said the app’s developer and former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey on Friday (July 24, 2026) in an X post, sharing a copy of the notice dated July 23. 该应用的开发者、前 Twitter 首席执行官杰克·多西 (Jack Dorsey) 于周五（2026 年 7 月 24 日）在 X 平台上发帖称：“印度政府不喜欢 Bitchat 这类技术，并希望将其下架。”他同时分享了一份日期为 7 月 23 日的通知副本。

In its notice, I4C said that the app enables communication even during network restrictions and creates a substantial risk of misuse by anti-national elements, terrorist organisations, organised criminal groups and cyber criminals seeking to evade lawful detection and continue communication despite legally imposed restrictions. I4C 在通知中表示，该应用即使在网络受限期间也能进行通讯，这为反国家分子、恐怖组织、有组织犯罪集团和网络罪犯提供了巨大的滥用风险，他们试图逃避合法侦查，并在法律限制下继续进行通讯。

While giving reference to Bitchat, I4C said that the content hosted or published by the GitHub intermediary platform is prohibited by law or being used to commit an unlawful act. I4C said that it has identified multiple applications as communication platforms capable of establishing decentralised peer-to-peer messaging over Bluetooth mesh networks without relying on mobile networks, internet connectivity, or centralised servers. 在提及 Bitchat 时，I4C 表示 GitHub 中介平台托管或发布的内容违反了法律，或被用于实施非法行为。I4C 称已识别出多个应用程序，这些应用作为通讯平台，能够在不依赖移动网络、互联网连接或中心化服务器的情况下，通过蓝牙网状网络建立去中心化的点对点通讯。

“The application enables anonymous communication without mandatory user registration, phone number verification, or centralised logging of communications. The technical architecture of the application significantly impedes lawful interception, attribution and investigation by law enforcement agencies,” the notice said. 通知指出：“该应用支持匿名通讯，无需强制用户注册、手机号码验证或进行通讯记录的中心化存储。其技术架构严重阻碍了执法机构的合法拦截、溯源和调查工作。”

According to I4C, since communications occur directly between nearby devices through a decentralised mesh network, the platform can be misused to evade lawful surveillance, facilitate anonymous coordination, and circumvent lawful restrictions imposed by competent authorities during situations involving public disorder, riots, terrorism, organised crime, or internet shutdowns. I4C 表示，由于通讯是通过去中心化网状网络在附近设备之间直接进行的，该平台可能被滥用于逃避合法监控、协助匿名协调，并在涉及公共秩序混乱、骚乱、恐怖主义、有组织犯罪或互联网中断的情况下，规避主管当局实施的合法限制。

“Intelligence inputs indicate that such decentralised communication platforms are capable of being exploited for coordinating unlawful assemblies, violent protests, dissemination of misinformation, radicalisation, criminal conspiracies, and other activities prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of the State, public order, and facilitating the commission of cognizable offences,” the notice said. 通知称：“情报显示，此类去中心化通讯平台可能被利用来协调非法集会、暴力抗议、散布虚假信息、煽动极端化、策划犯罪阴谋，以及从事其他损害印度主权和完整、国防、国家安全、公共秩序以及协助实施可逮捕犯罪的行为。”

In the notice to GitHub, I4C has mentioned that the app violates Sections 43, 84B and 84C of the IT Act and Section 61 read with 196 and 197. 在发给 GitHub 的通知中，I4C 指出该应用违反了《信息技术法》(IT Act) 第 43 条、第 84B 条和第 84C 条，以及第 61 条（结合第 196 和 197 条）。