Indian government requests GitHub to remove Bitchat repositories during Delhi protests

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, directed GitHub on July 23, 2026, to delete three repositories hosting Bitchat, an open-source decentralized messaging application. The request coincided with ongoing protests in Delhi, though specific details about the protest context or Bitchat’s usage during the unrest were not disclosed in the order.

Bitchat operates as a peer-to-peer messaging platform, designed to function without centralized servers. Its decentralized architecture allows users to communicate directly, a feature that may have raised concerns about potential misuse during the protests, according to the government’s directive. The app’s open-source nature means its code is publicly accessible, though the I4C did not specify technical reasons for targeting the repositories.

The order mandates both the removal of the repositories and the disabling of access to existing users. GitHub’s compliance process with such requests is not detailed in the available information, but the directive highlights the government’s effort to restrict tools perceived as enabling unrest. Bitchat’s developers or users have not been named in the records provided, and no statements from the platform or affected parties have been reported.

The I4C’s authority to issue such orders stems from its role in coordinating cybercrime response under India’s legal framework. While the exact legal basis for targeting Bitchat was not outlined in the directive, the action aligns with broader government measures to curb digital platforms during periods of civil unrest. The timing of the request, during the Delhi protests, suggests a direct link between the app’s use and the government’s security concerns.