India's Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered GitHub to remove repositories hosting Jack Dorsey's decentralized messaging app Bitchat, arguing that the Bluetooth mesh platform could be used to evade internet shutdowns and lawful surveillance.
The order, which was made public by Dorsey after it was sent to GitHub, essentially targets the software itself rather than unlawful content or illegal use.
The notice was issued by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs at 11:16 p.m. on July 23, 2026. Citing Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and Rule 3(1)(d) of the Information Technology Rules, it directs GitHub to disable access to three repositories within three hours or risk losing intermediary protections and facing potential legal liability.
The repositories listed in the order are:
- github.com/permissionlesstech/bitchat
- github.com/permissionlesstech/bitchat-android
- github.com/permissionlesstech/bitchat-android/releases
GitHub, owned by Microsoft, is the world's largest software development platform, hosting hundreds of millions of code repositories used by individual developers, open-source communities, and enterprises. It regularly receives government requests to remove content or restrict access where required by local law.
Bitchat enabling anonymous communications
Bitchat enables decentralized peer-to-peer messaging over Bluetooth mesh networks without relying on mobile networks, internet connectivity, or centralized servers. Authorities argue that the app's lack of mandatory registration, phone number verification, and centralized logging significantly impedes lawful interception and criminal investigations.
I4C’s notice further states that the platform could be exploited to facilitate riots, organized crime, terrorism, misinformation campaigns, and other criminal activity by allowing users to continue communicating during internet shutdowns or other network restrictions. It cites various local law provisions in concluding that the repositories contain information prohibited under Indian law.
Designed to operate without internet access
Dorsey introduced Bitchat in July 2025 as an open-source messaging platform focused on privacy and censorship resistance. The application uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to create mesh networks between nearby devices, allowing messages to hop from phone to phone without requiring cellular service, Wi-Fi, or centralized servers. It also supports end-to-end encryption and does not require accounts or phone numbers.
The app's decentralized design makes it particularly useful in environments where internet access is unavailable, unreliable, or intentionally restricted.
The takedown order comes amid ongoing student protests in New Delhi, where authorities have repeatedly suspended mobile internet around Jantar Mantar, according to public reports cited by IFF. The organization argues that Bitchat became particularly relevant because it allows nearby users to continue exchanging messages without internet connectivity during government-imposed network shutdowns.
Amnesty International also criticized India's broader response to the demonstrations after authorities invoked powers under the National Security Act that allow administrative detention without many of the procedural safeguards available in ordinary criminal proceedings. The organization warned that such measures threaten the rights to peaceful assembly, free expression, and protection from arbitrary detention.
The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) condemned the takedown order as “unconstitutional and authoritarian,” arguing that the government improperly relied on Section 79(3)(b) as a blocking mechanism instead of following the procedures established under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act.
IFF also argues that the notice identifies no unlawful content contained in the repositories, instead objecting to the software's capabilities and the possibility that it could be misused. The organization further criticized the three-hour compliance deadline, issued shortly before midnight, saying it effectively prevented meaningful legal review or challenge.
The organization has called on the government to withdraw the order, publish takedown directions issued under the same legal authority, and restore internet connectivity around New Delhi's Jantar Mantar protest area.
It remains unclear whether GitHub has complied with the removal request or intends to challenge it.
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