According to a recent post by Block CEO Jack Dorsey, Apple has complied with a request from China's internet regulator to remove the decentralized messaging app Bitchat from the China App Store. The Cyberspace Administration of China claimed that the app breached regulations related to online services that have the potential to influence public opinion or mobilize society, which necessitates a security evaluation prior to launch. As a result, Apple's app review team notified Dorsey that both the app's listing and its TestFlight beta version would no longer be accessible in China, although the app remains available in other countries.
Bitchat's unique design allows it to function over Bluetooth and mesh networks without requiring an internet connection, rendering it impervious to conventional government blocking methods. This feature has made the app 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 has been downloaded over three million times across various platforms, with more than 92,000 downloads in the past week alone, although regional breakdowns are not available. The Google Play Store separately reports over one million registered downloads.