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In a recent announcement by Dorsey, it has come to light that Apple is set to withdraw the messaging application Bitchat from the Indian App Store.
This action follows a request from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), which identified content deemed illegal under Indian law, thereby breaching the company’s App Review Guidelines.
MeitY’s Intervention Under Section 69A of the IT Act
According to Apple’s communication, MeitY invoked Section 69A of the Information Technology Act of 2000 to justify the takedown.
This provision empowers the central government to instruct intermediaries to obstruct public access to specified information under legally established circumstances.
Nevertheless, the notification from Apple does not delineate which particular aspects of Bitchat were categorized as illegal in India, nor does it clarify the specific grounds cited under Section 69A.
Apple has advised the developer to reach out to MeitY for further details concerning the app’s removal.
As it stands, this action pertains exclusively to India. Apple affirmed that Bitchat will maintain availability in other regions chosen by the developer through App Store Connect.
Additionally, the company noted that the TestFlight version will cease to be accessible for both internal and external testing within India, and public TestFlight links will also become nonfunctional.
Understanding Bitchat
Bitchat is a cutting-edge decentralized messaging platform that enables users to communicate without dependence on mobile networks, internet access, or centralized servers.
It harnesses Bluetooth mesh technology, allowing nearby devices to relay messages amongst themselves seamlessly.
Earlier this year, Bitchat garnered significant scrutiny in India when authorities pursued action against its repositories hosted on GitHub.
In July, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), operating under the aegis of the Ministry of Home Affairs, issued a directive mandating GitHub to expunge Bitchat repositories, citing concerns over the app’s potential to facilitate communication beyond standard internet infrastructure.
This prior initiative was grounded in Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, rendering the latest MeitY demand under Section 69A a distinct governmental response.
While Bitchat’s decentralized framework is often lauded for its resilience during internet outages, it simultaneously raises alarm among authorities regarding the challenges it poses for lawful interception and regulatory oversight.
Source link: Businesstoday.in.
