Jack Dorsey's Bitchat app removed from India app stores after government order
Jack Dorsey's decentralised messaging app Bitchat was pulled from Apple and Google app stores in India after a government order, according to coverage from US and Indian outlets.
What happened
Bitchat, a decentralised messaging app created by Twitter (X) co-founder Jack Dorsey, has been removed from Apple's App Store and Google Play Store in India.123
The removal came after a government order, which Apple attributed to India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).2
As a result, the app has become largely unavailable to users in India.1
Key points
- Bitchat, a decentralised messaging app founded by Twitter (X) co-founder Jack Dorsey, was removed from app stores in India.123
- Apple removed Bitchat from its India App Store.23
- The removal followed a government order, with Apple citing an order from India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).12
- The app also disappeared from the Google Play Store in India.12
What the coverage leaves out
- None of the outlets reviewed reported the specific reason MeitY gave for ordering the app's removal.
- None of the outlets reviewed included a statement from Jack Dorsey or Bitchat regarding the removal.
- None of the outlets reviewed reported how many users in India were affected or when exactly the removal took effect.
Sources (3)
Every outlet we drew on, grouped by where it is based. Read the originals for the full reporting.
North America
- 1TechCrunchUSPrivate
Jack Dorsey’s Bitchat disappears from app stores in India after government order
South Asia
- 2Inc42INPrivate
Jack Dorsey’s Bitchat Goes Offline In India, Apple Cites MeitY Order
- 3The Economic TimesINPrivate