Advocacy Group Slams Removal of Offline Messaging App BitChat from India App Store

The Internet Freedom Foundation has called Apple's decision to remove the messaging app BitChat from the Indian App Store unconstitutional. Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey shared a notice on X stating that Apple took down the app following an order from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. The notice states that the app was removed under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act because it allegedly includes illegal content in India. The Internet Freedom Foundation pointed out that the notice does not identify the specific illegal content or the grounds invoked under Section 69A. The organisation issued four demands, including the immediate publication and withdrawal of the blocking order, and asked Apple to disclose the demand in its transparency reporting. BitChat relies on Bluetooth mesh technology to relay end-to-end encrypted messages between nearby phones without using servers. The Internet Freedom Foundation claims the state objects to the app working during internet shutdowns rather than any actual content. The group stated that previous notices issued to tech firms on July 23, 2026, targeted apps that function during internet shutdowns.

Context

Section 69A of the Information Technology Act allows authorities to block public access to online information under specific legal grounds and procedural safeguards. Offline messaging tools use direct device-to-device radio signals like Bluetooth to let people communicate when traditional cellular networks or internet services are unavailable.