Centre bans Bitchat app used during internet curbs; cites security risks

NEW DELHI: The government has directed Microsoft-owned GitHub to remove Bitchat, a Bluetooth-based messaging application, citing concerns that it could be misused by anti-national elements, terrorists, organised crime groups and cybercriminals to evade lawful surveillance.

According to a notice issued by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), the cybercrime arm of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the application enables decentralised peer-to-peer communication over Bluetooth mesh networks without relying on mobile networks, Wi-Fi or centralised servers.