Apple Removes Jack Dorsey’s "Bitchat" from China App Store Following Government MandateJack Dorsey, CEO of Block and co-founder of Twitter, has revealed that his personal side project, the Bluetooth-based messaging app Bitchat, has been purged from the Apple App Store in China. According to Apple’s app review team, the removal was executed in direct compliance with an order from Chinese regulatory authorities.
Regulatory Crackdown on Unregulated Communication
The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) stated that Bitchat violates domestic online service regulations. The agency argued that any platform enabling public communication or the exchange of opinions must undergo a rigorous security assessment by the state before being cleared for public use a process Bitchat has not completed.
While the app remains available for download in other global markets, this regional ban highlights the ongoing friction between decentralized tech and state-controlled digital spaces.
The Power of the Mesh: Why Bitchat is a Threat
Bitchat operates using a Bluetooth Mesh Network, allowing devices to communicate directly with one another without the need for an internet connection or cellular signal. This "off-the-grid" capability has reportedly made the app a primary communication tool for protesters in various countries, as it remains functional even during total government-mandated internet shutdowns.
With internet censorship being virtually 100% possible through Deep Packet Inspection (DPI), technologies like Mesh Networks are a "blind spot" for governments. Because data doesn't travel through a central server but jumps from one user's device to another (peer-to-peer), eavesdropping or blocking is extremely difficult unless all mobile phones are confiscated.
While Bluetooth range may be short (around 10-100 meters), Bitchat uses multi-hop routing. This means that if you want to send a message to someone 1 kilometer away, the message will gradually jump through other Bitchat users along the way until it reaches its destination. The more people using the app in a densely populated area (e.g., in a crowd), the stronger and wider the network becomes.
With the widespread use of Bluetooth 6.0, leaving Bluetooth enabled for Mesh Network operation doesn't consume as much battery as before. This allows Bitchat to run in the background all day long, unlike older apps like Bridgefy or FireChat, which often had stability issues and high battery drain.
Dorsey's development of this app as a personal project reflects his belief in decentralization. His approach is extremely decentralized. He wants to create a tool that is "unstoppable," which of course directly conflicts with the country's centralized approach to cybersecurity management.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is ready to capture images in space.
Source: CoinDesk
Apple Removes Jack Dorsey’s "Bitchat" from China App Store Following Government MandateJack Dorsey, CEO of Block and co-founder of Twitter, has revealed that his personal side project, the Bluetooth-based messaging app Bitchat, has been purged from the Apple App Store in China. According to Apple’s app review team, the removal was executed in direct compliance with an order from Chinese regulatory authorities.
Regulatory Crackdown on Unregulated Communication
The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) stated that Bitchat violates domestic online service regulations. The agency argued that any platform enabling public communication or the exchange of opinions must undergo a rigorous security assessment by the state before being cleared for public use a process Bitchat has not completed.
While the app remains available for download in other global markets, this regional ban highlights the ongoing friction between decentralized tech and state-controlled digital spaces.
The Power of the Mesh: Why Bitchat is a Threat
Bitchat operates using a Bluetooth Mesh Network, allowing devices to communicate directly with one another without the need for an internet connection or cellular signal. This "off-the-grid" capability has reportedly made the app a primary communication tool for protesters in various countries, as it remains functional even during total government-mandated internet shutdowns.
With internet censorship being virtually 100% possible through Deep Packet Inspection (DPI), technologies like Mesh Networks are a "blind spot" for governments. Because data doesn't travel through a central server but jumps from one user's device to another (peer-to-peer), eavesdropping or blocking is extremely difficult unless all mobile phones are confiscated.
While Bluetooth range may be short (around 10-100 meters), Bitchat uses multi-hop routing. This means that if you want to send a message to someone 1 kilometer away, the message will gradually jump through other Bitchat users along the way until it reaches its destination. The more people using the app in a densely populated area (e.g., in a crowd), the stronger and wider the network becomes.
With the widespread use of Bluetooth 6.0, leaving Bluetooth enabled for Mesh Network operation doesn't consume as much battery as before. This allows Bitchat to run in the background all day long, unlike older apps like Bridgefy or FireChat, which often had stability issues and high battery drain.
Dorsey's development of this app as a personal project reflects his belief in decentralization. His approach is extremely decentralized. He wants to create a tool that is "unstoppable," which of course directly conflicts with the country's centralized approach to cybersecurity management.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is ready to capture images in space.
Source: CoinDesk
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