The Indian government has directed GitHub to restrict access to repositories for Jack Dorsey's offline messaging app Bitchat, citing concerns over its decentralized architecture facilitating unlawful activity and evading internet shutdowns. This move has sparked a legal debate regarding the jurisdiction of blocking open-source software tools that can be used for both legitimate privacy and illicit purposes.
Background
India has recently tightened internet restrictions following student-led protests in New Delhi, leading to increased scrutiny of communication tools that function during internet blackouts.
- Source
- TechCrunch
- Published
- Jul 25, 2026 at 12:54 AM
- Score
- 7.0 / 10