India has apparently asked GitHub to restrict access to repositories for Jack Dorsey’s Bluetooth-based messaging app Bitchat, prompting legal and digital-rights concerns. The notice reportedly argues that the app’s anonymous, decentralised design could enable unlawful activity, undermine interception and let people communicate during internet shutdowns; critics say this could set a new precedent for targeting open-source software because of its capabilities rather than specific illegal content.

The apparent order, dated 23 July and issued by the Home Ministry’s cybercrime coordination body, sought restrictions on three repositories within three hours. It followed internet restrictions during student protests in New Delhi, after which offline apps such as Bitchat reportedly gained popularity: India accounted for about 85% of its global downloads between 17 and 23 July, with more than 91,000 downloads over five days and over 330,000 daily active users on Thursday. Digital-rights groups argue that removing code repositories would not remove the app from users’ phones or stop its mesh network, but could reduce public scrutiny of the software.