Following a request from China's internet regulator, Apple has taken down Bitchat, a peer-to-peer messaging application 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 claimed the app breached regulations related to online services that influence public opinion or facilitate social mobilization, which necessitate security evaluations prior to launch.
Apple's review team informed Dorsey that both the app's listing and its TestFlight beta version would be inaccessible in China, although the app remains available in other countries. Bitchat's unique design, which functions solely over Bluetooth and mesh networks without requiring an internet connection, renders it impervious to government blockages through conventional means such as internet shutdowns or firewall filtering. This feature has made it an essential tool for protesters in countries like 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. According to the Google Play Store, the app has been downloaded over one million times.