BitChat Repositories Removal Order
#GS-3 #Science & Technology #Cyber Security #ICT #Current Events #National #GS-2 #Governance & Social Justice #Regulatory Bodies #Information Technology #IT Act
Why in News
- The Ministry of Home Affairs operating through the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) asked GitHub to block three repositories housing BitChat.
About BitChat Repositories
- BitChat works as an open-source peer-to-peer messaging app that functions without any active internet connection, mobile network, or central server. The software code and Android app installation files reside on GitHub.
- Doris Lima originally created the concept for BitChat, while Jack Dorsey, the co-founder of Twitter/X and chief executive of Block, developed the application.
How It Works
- The application creates a direct device-to-device network through Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to detect nearby phones within ~30 to 100 meters. Every smartphone transmits encrypted messages to neighboring devices until reaching the destination.
- The app combines local Bluetooth connections with the decentralized Nostr protocol whenever an internet connection becomes available to users.
Key Features
- The system operates smoothly during complete internet blackouts, sudden network shutdowns, or severe natural disasters.
- Users can access the app with complete anonymity without sharing phone numbers, email IDs, or personal accounts.
- The platform secures communication with the Noise Protocol Framework so intermediate devices cannot read or modify message content.
- The lack of central servers means law enforcement agencies cannot request stored user databases or central messaging history.
- The software includes self-deleting messages and quick data wiping features to prevent physical data recovery from seized devices.
Challenges
- Investigating crimes becomes difficult for police forces because the app lacks central user records and phone verification.
- The offline mesh network allows people to communicate during government internet suspensions, making public order maintenance harder.
- Legal experts argue that using Section 79(3)(b) rather than Section 69A of the IT Act bypasses legal safeguards set by the Supreme Court in Shreya Singhal and Anuradha Bhasin cases.