- Bitchat downloads in India jumped 32x as internet shutdowns accelerated user adoption.
- India generated 85% of Bitchat’s global downloads between July 17 and July 23.
- Government takedown efforts sparked debate over open-source software and digital rights.
Bitchat has recorded explosive growth in India after government efforts to restrict the offline messaging application triggered wider public attention. The app’s downloads increased sharply during recent internet shutdowns, while legal experts questioned the basis of authorities’ attempt to remove its open-source code from GitHub.
Internet Shutdowns Drive Bitchat Adoption Across India
Bitchat experienced remarkable growth in India as users increasingly sought communication tools that function without traditional internet connectivity during disruptions.
According to Sensor Tower data shared with TechCrunch, India accounted for approximately 85% of Bitchat’s global downloads between July 17 and July 23. Previously, the country represented only about 1% of worldwide downloads during the preceding thirty days.
The offline messaging application recorded more than 91,000 downloads across India within five days. Meanwhile, downloads increased thirty-two times on July 19 compared with the previous day, highlighting exceptionally rapid adoption.
“In recent days, Bitchat has seen a sharp rise in popularity in India. Market intelligence provider Sensor Tower shared data with TechCrunch that showed that India accounted for about 85% of the app’s global downloads between July 17 and July 23, compared with about 1% over the… https://t.co/LQv5s2qm3n
— jack (@jack) July 24, 2026
Daily active users also surpassed 330,000 by July 24, representing the application’s highest recorded engagement level within the Indian market.
The surge coincided with student demonstrations in New Delhi over alleged examination paper leaks linked to the NEET-UG entrance examination. Authorities responded by imposing repeated mobile internet restrictions around protest locations, prompting many participants to seek alternative communication platforms.
Unlike conventional messaging applications, Bitchat uses Bluetooth mesh networking to enable nearby users to exchange messages without relying on mobile networks or centralized servers. Consequently, the application continued functioning despite temporary internet shutdowns affecting protesters.
The rapid increase also reflected growing interest in decentralized communication technologies during periods of network disruption, extending the application’s visibility beyond its traditional user base.
Government Takedown Request Sparks Legal Debate
As Bitchat gained popularity, India’s government reportedly directed GitHub to restrict access to three repositories associated with the application’s open-source code.
Jack Dorsey shared the apparent notice on X, stating that authorities wanted technologies like Bitchat removed because they complicated communication monitoring during internet restrictions.
the government of india does not like technologies like bitchat and wants it taken down pic.twitter.com/gjzMg1NGCi
— jack (@jack) July 24, 2026
The document, reportedly issued by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre under the Ministry of Home Affairs, argued that Bitchat’s anonymous and decentralized architecture could facilitate unlawful activity while making lawful interception more difficult.
However, legal experts questioned whether existing Indian laws authorize authorities to seek removal of an entire software project because of its technical design.
Digital rights advocates also argued that deleting source code repositories would not disable copies already installed on users’ devices. Furthermore, developers have mirrored Bitchat’s source code on decentralized hosting platforms, making complete removal significantly more challenging.
The dispute has intensified discussion surrounding open-source software regulation, digital rights, and whether governments should target decentralized communication tools based on their underlying architecture instead of specific unlawful content.
Be the first to comment