Apple has complied with a request from China's internet regulator to remove Bitchat, a peer-to-peer messaging app created by Block CEO Jack Dorsey, from the Chinese App Store. The removal was announced by Dorsey in a post on X. According to the Cyberspace Administration of China, the app was taken down due to non-compliance with regulations related to online services that have the potential to influence public opinion or mobilize society, which require prior security assessments.
Apple informed Dorsey that the app's listing and beta version on TestFlight would no longer be available in China, although it remains accessible in other countries. The app's unique design, which allows it to function over Bluetooth and mesh networks without needing an internet connection, has made it particularly appealing to protesters in countries such as Madagascar, Uganda, Nepal, Indonesia, and Iran, where authorities have attempted to restrict internet access to suppress dissent. With over three million downloads across all platforms and more than 92,000 downloads in the past week, the app's popularity is notable, although specific regional download numbers are not available. Additionally, the Google Play Store reports over one million registered downloads.