Indian government requests GitHub to remove Bitchat repositories during Delhi protests

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs, issued the takedown request on July 23, 2026. The repositories were said to host Bitchat, a decentralized messaging tool that has been used by protesters in Delhi to coordinate demonstrations.

GitHub, owned by Microsoft, has not yet publicly commented on the request. The platform typically evaluates such orders against its terms of service and local laws before deciding whether to comply.

Bitchat is designed to operate without a central server, making it harder for authorities to block or monitor. The app gained traction during the recent protests in Delhi, which have drawn international attention.

The takedown request is part of a broader government effort to curb the spread of information and coordination tools during the unrest. Legal experts say the move raises questions about the reach of Indian law over global platforms and the balance between security and free expression.