Following a request from 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 announced by Dorsey in a recent X post. The Cyberspace Administration of China claimed that the app breached regulations related to online services with the capacity for "public opinion or social mobilization," 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 would be unavailable in China, although the app remains accessible in other countries.
Bitchat's unique design, which enables it to operate entirely over Bluetooth and mesh networks without requiring an internet connection, makes it impervious to government blocking through traditional internet shutdowns or firewall filtering. This feature has made it a preferred 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 popularity continues to grow, although regional breakdowns are not available.
Additionally, the Google Play Store reports over one million registered downloads.