At the request of China's internet regulator, Apple has removed 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 cited the app's non-compliance with regulations governing online services that have the potential to shape public opinion or facilitate social mobilization. As a result, Apple's app review team informed Dorsey that both the app's listing and its TestFlight beta version would be unavailable in China, although the app remains accessible in other countries.
The app's unique design, which enables it to function over Bluetooth and mesh networks without an internet connection, has made it a popular choice among 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 platforms and more than 92,000 downloads in the past week alone, the app's removal from the China App Store marks a significant development in the ongoing tensions between the Chinese government and tech companies.