India orders removal of Bitchat app from app stores
Apple and Google have taken Jack Dorsey's decentralized messaging app Bitchat off their stores in India, citing an order from the central government. Apple notified Dorsey that India's IT ministry used Section 69A of the Information Technology Act to demand the takedown. Bitchat's website and TestFlight beta are also inaccessible within the country. Authorities have not disclosed what content in the app was deemed illegal, and have not commented publicly on the action.
- Apple and Google removed Bitchat from their India stores
- Government cited Section 69A of India's IT Act
- Dorsey published Apple's official removal notice
- Bitchat's website is also inaccessible in India
- Authorities did not specify the alleged illegal content
Sources covering this
In this story
More in Big Tech
Amazon ends use of NDAs for new data center projects
Amazon says it's no longer requiring nondisclosure agreements when working with local officials on new data center projects.
Steam's September revenue hits $1.7 billion, sets record pace
Steam had its best September ever, generating $1.7 billion in revenue—a 13% increase over last year, according to Alinea Analytics…
Podcast covers AI boom's impact on West Coast tech cities
A new joint podcast episode brings together tech leaders and historians to discuss how the latest AI surge is intensifying long-standing…