Bitchat · regulatory
India Orders Apple to Remove Bitchat From the App Store
India has cut Bitchat off from Apple's App Store in a market that recently generated about 85% of its global downloads, materially restricting the app's ability to acquire new users there.
Did India order both Apple and Google to remove Bitchat?
Not according to the verified sources. MeitY's removal order to Apple is confirmed, while Google Play was also unavailable in India but a government order to Google had not been verified.
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Why does the India restriction matter for Bitchat?
India accounted for about 85% of Bitchat's global downloads between July 17 and July 23, so losing mainstream app-store distribution restricts access to a market that recently drove most of its downloads.
Does the 85% figure mean India provides 85% of Bitchat's users or revenue?
No. The Sensor Tower figure covers downloads during one week, not Bitchat's installed user base or revenue, and the checked sources did not disclose a revenue impact.
Is Bitchat inaccessible through other distribution channels in India?
Apple said TestFlight access would also be blocked in India, while TechCrunch and Moneycontrol found Bitchat's website inaccessible and the app unavailable on Google Play at the time of their checks.
What remains unresolved?
The verified reports did not establish whether Google or Indian internet providers received separate government orders, and Apple's notice did not identify the specific content that MeitY considered illegal.
Sources
- TechCrunch — Jack Dorsey’s Bitchat disappears from app stores in India after government order
- Moneycontrol — Jack Dorsey’s offline messaging app Bitchat removed after MeitY demand; Android app, website inaccessible
Original signal: TechCrunch ↗
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