Wire · regulatory
India Orders GitHub to Remove Jack Dorsey's Bitchat Code
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Fusion42 · 25 July 2026 · Fusion42 review
India's cybercrime agency ordered GitHub to remove Bitchat repositories within three hours, citing the mesh messaging app's ability to function during internet shutdowns. The order, issued under India's IT Act, threatens GitHub with loss of safe harbour and criminal prosecution for hosting code that enables communication circumventing 'lawful restrictions'.
This Wire brief sits within Fusion42's coverage of Fintech, and 6 sources have reported it between 24 Jul 2026 and 26 Jul 2026.
◆ ◆ The Wire takeaway
If you're building peer-to-peer or mesh communication tools, India just signalled it will force removal of your code from open repositories and threaten platforms hosting it, regardless of intended use. The precedent applies to any software that works offline or without centralised infrastructure.
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6 sources · first reported 24 Jul 2026 · latest 26 Jul 2026
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