At the behest of China's internet regulator, Apple has taken down Bitchat, a decentralized messaging app created by Block CEO Jack Dorsey, from the China App Store, as disclosed by Dorsey in a recent X post. The Cyberspace Administration of China claimed the app breached rules governing online services that have the ability to shape public opinion or mobilize society, which mandates a security evaluation prior to launch.
Apple's app review team notified Dorsey that the app's listing and beta version on TestFlight would no longer be accessible in China, although it remains available in other countries. The app, which functions entirely over Bluetooth and mesh networks without needing an internet connection, has become a go-to tool for protesters, including those in Madagascar, Uganda, Nepal, Indonesia, and Iran, where authorities have tried to limit 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 architecture has made it difficult for governments to block through traditional means. The Google Play Store separately reports over one million registered downloads.