China Orders Removal of Jack Dorsey’s Bitchat App From App Store

• China orders Apple to remove Bitchat under 2018 rules on public mobilization.
• Bitchat’s mesh messaging enables offline encrypted chats, limiting oversight.
• Bitchat is used in restricted regions, enabling offline messaging during shutdowns.

Apple has removed the Bitchat messaging application from its China App Store following a directive from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), marking a new instance of regulatory action targeting decentralized communication tools.

The decision, disclosed by Jack Dorsey, comes as Chinese authorities enforce existing rules governing apps that can influence public opinion or enable large-scale social coordination.

Regulatory Action Targets Decentralized Messaging

Authorities said the app violated provisions under 2018 regulations that require security reviews for services capable of shaping public discourse or mobilizing users. These rules apply broadly to internet-based platforms operating within China’s tightly regulated digital environment.

Bitchat differs from conventional messaging services by operating through Bluetooth mesh networks rather than centralized servers or internet infrastructure. This design enables peer-to-peer communication with end-to-end encryption, making oversight and monitoring more difficult under existing regulatory frameworks.

Growth and Usage During Connectivity Disruptions

The app, launched in mid-2025 by Permissionless Tech and promoted by Dorsey, has seen rising global adoption. It has recorded more than three million downloads across platforms, including over 83,000 in the past week. Its TestFlight version previously reached the 10,000-user limit, while the Android version surpassed one million downloads on the Google Play Store.

Bitchat has also been used in regions experiencing internet restrictions, including Iran, Uganda, Madagascar, Nepal, and Indonesia. Its mesh networking system allows messages to pass between nearby devices without requiring an internet connection, enabling communication during network outages.

Broader Context of China’s Digital Controls

The removal aligns with China’s broader approach to managing digital communications. The country’s dominant messaging platform, WeChat, operates under strict content moderation and regulatory oversight, serving approximately 1.34 billion monthly users.

This is not the first time Chinese authorities have acted against applications associated with Dorsey. In 2023, regulators banned Damus, a decentralized social platform built on the Nostr protocol, citing similar concerns about unmonitored communication channels.

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