Jack Dorsey’s messaging app BitChat is once again in the news. The reason for this is the tech company Apple has decided to remove this app from the app store in India. This step has been taken on the directives of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India. Now let’s know in detail what exactly this case is.
Facility to send messages without internet
Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey launched BitChat, a messaging app with the facility to send messages without internet. This app specifically means that through this app the devices available around can be connected with each other with the help of bluetooth network. Meanwhile, this app was widely discussed. (Photo Courtesy: Pinterest)
The decision to remove BitChat from India’s App Store
Jack Dorsey shared a screenshot of a message Apple sent to his X account on October 3. In this, Apple’s app review team has said that it has been decided to remove BitChat from India’s app store as per the demand of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India. According to Apple, the government had directed the app not to be made available in the country, citing content that is considered illegal in India.
Apple has clarified that BitChat will be available in other countries. But this app has now been removed from the app store in India. Testflight version of this app cannot be used in India either. TestFlight is used to test the beta version of an app. According to Apple, the Government of India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has directed BitChat to be removed from the app store in India under Section 69A of the IT Act.
Unlike normal messaging apps
The messaging app BitChat works very differently from other common messaging apps. It does not require an internet connection or reliance on any central server. This app uses Bluetooth based mesh networking. Through this, nearby devices can connect with each other and forward messages.
In the month of July, CJP protested at Jantar Mantar. At this time when the internet was down, the protestors maintained contact with the help of BitChat. Due to this, the BitChat app came under government surveillance earlier too, but later it became available again. After a 12-hour internet shutdown in Jantar Mantar area on October 2 and protests by the CJP in Delhi and Mumbai, Apple has now decided to remove ‘BitChat’ from the Indian App Store.