Bitchat, a decentralized messaging application developed by Jack Dorsey, has
been removed from the App Store in China following a request from the country’s
internet regulator.
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Dorsey said in a post on X that the app was
taken down earlier this year. He wrote that “Bitchat pulled from the China App
Store,” and shared a notice from Apple’s app review team. The notice stated
that the app had been removed in February and that its TestFlight beta version
would no longer be available in China. The decision was made at the request of
the Cyberspace Administration of China.
Apple Blocks Bitchat, Cites Local Laws
According to the notice, the regulator
determined that Bitchat violated rules governing online services with “public
opinion or social mobilization capabilities.” These rules came into force in
2018. Under the provisions, such services must undergo a security assessment
before launch and “be responsible for the assessment results.”
Apple’s app review team said developers must
comply with local laws in all markets where their apps are available. The team
added that “it is your responsibility to understand and make sure your app
conforms with all local laws,” and noted that apps encouraging unlawful or
risky behavior would be rejected.
Bitchat operates without a central server. It uses
Bluetooth and mesh networks to transmit messages directly between devices. The
system does not rely on internet access. This structure has made the app
difficult to control through conventional network restrictions.
Millions Download Bitchat Outside China Markets
In recent months, the app has gained traction
during protests in several countries, including Madagascar, Uganda, Nepal,
Indonesia, and Iran. Authorities in those countries had attempted to limit
internet access or block communication platforms, Cointelegraph reported.
Despite its removal in China, Bitchat remains
available in other regions, according to Apple. Download data indicates growing
usage. Figures from the Chrome platform show more than three million downloads,
including over 92,000 in the past week. The Google Play Store reports more than
one million installs. The data does not specify geographic distribution.
This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.
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