Apple has removed Bitchat, a messaging platform created by Jack Dorsey, from its App Store in China after a request from the Cyberspace Administration of China.
Dorsey confirmed the removal in a social media post on Sunday, sharing a screenshot from Apple’s app review team stating that Bitchat had been pulled from the China App Store in February. The notice also confirmed that the TestFlight beta version would no longer be accessible to users in China. Apple indicated that all applications available in its store must comply with local laws and regulatory requirements in each country.
Chinese authorities stated that Bitchat violated Article 3 of regulations introduced in 2018, which apply to online services capable of influencing public opinion or enabling social mobilization. These rules require platforms to complete a formal security assessment before launch and accept responsibility for the results.
Bitchat Usage During Protests Raises Regulatory Concerns
Bitchat has gained traction globally due to its decentralized design, allowing users to communicate through Bluetooth and mesh networks without relying on internet connectivity. This feature has made the app useful during protests in Madagascar, Uganda, Nepal, Indonesia, and Iran, where authorities attempted to restrict internet access and limit communications.
Despite the removal in China, Bitchat remains available in other regions. Download figures indicate more than three million Chrome downloads, including over 92,000 installs in the past week, while the Google Play Store has recorded more than one million registered downloads. However, regional download distribution data has not been disclosed.
For comparison, WeChat, developed by Tencent, remains the dominant messaging service in China, with an estimated 810 million users out of a national population exceeding 1.4 billion people.
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