The Central government has explained why Bitchat, the Bluetooth-based messaging app developed by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, was removed from app stores in the country. Government sources reportedly said that the app was considered a law and order concern because it can allow people to communicate without depending on mobile networks or the internet.
According to a PTI report, government sources said the Centre is duty-bound to maintain law and order and had to take action after concerns were raised about how Bitchat could be used.
Bitchat works differently from regular messaging apps such as WhatsApp or Telegram. It uses Bluetooth to allow nearby phones to communicate with each other.
Messages can also move from one device to another through multiple Bluetooth connections, allowing communication to continue even when there is no internet connection.
This feature is what has raised concerns for the government.
Sources told PTI that users could simply switch on Bluetooth and send messages through several hops between nearby devices. The government thinks this could create a law and order risk in certain situations, particularly when internet or mobile services are restricted.
Apple has already removed Bitchat from its India App Store following a demand from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
Google has also removed the app from the Play Store in India.
The issue had first come under the spotlight in July when the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), the cybercrime arm of the Home Ministry, directed Microsoft-owned GitHub to remove Bitchat.
The action came during protests over exam paper leaks, when internet restrictions were reportedly imposed around the protest site.
At that time, authorities had raised concerns that Bitchat could allow communication to continue even when internet services were restricted. The government had also warned that decentralised messaging platforms could potentially be misused by criminals or other groups to avoid lawful monitoring.
Dorsey, who developed Bitchat, had earlier criticised the government’s action. The latest removal means Indian users can no longer download Bitchat from Apple’s App Store or Google’s Play Store. The app continues to be available in some other markets.
(with inputs from PTI)
