At the request of China's internet regulator, Apple has removed Bitchat, a peer-to-peer messaging app, from its China App Store, as announced by Block CEO Jack Dorsey in a recent X post. The Cyberspace Administration of China cited the app's non-compliance with regulations related to online services with the potential to influence public opinion or mobilize society, which necessitates security evaluations prior to launch.
As a result, Apple's app review team informed Dorsey that both the App Store listing and the TestFlight beta version of Bitchat would be unavailable in China, although the app remains accessible in other countries. Bitchat's unique design, which operates entirely over Bluetooth and mesh networks without requiring 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.
The app's architecture makes it resistant to conventional internet shutdowns or firewall filtering, rendering it a formidable tool for communication. With over three million downloads across platforms and more than 92,000 downloads in the past week alone, Bitchat has gained significant traction, although regional breakdowns are not available. Additionally, the Google Play Store reports over one million registered downloads.