Following a request from China's internet regulator, tech giant Apple has taken down Bitchat, a decentralized messaging app created by Block CEO Jack Dorsey, from its App Store in China, as disclosed by Dorsey in a recent X post. The Cyberspace Administration of China justified the removal by stating that the app breached regulations related to online services with capabilities for 'public opinion or social mobilization', which mandates security evaluations prior to launch.
According to Apple's app review team, both the App Store listing and the TestFlight beta version are no longer accessible in China, although the app remains available in other countries. The unique aspect of Bitchat is its ability to function entirely over Bluetooth and mesh networks, eliminating the need for an internet connection. This design makes it virtually impossible for governments to block the app through conventional methods such as internet shutdowns or firewall filtering. Consequently, Bitchat has been widely used during recent protests in several countries, including Madagascar, Uganda, Nepal, Indonesia, and Iran, where authorities have attempted to restrict internet access to suppress dissent.
With over three million downloads across platforms and more than 92,000 downloads in the last week alone, the app's popularity continues to grow, although regional breakdowns are not available. Additionally, the Google Play Store reports over one million registered downloads.