Summary:

Apple removes Bitchat from the China App Store following a request from regulators
The app was developed by Jack Dorsey and operates without internet using Bluetooth
China's regulator says the app violated rules tied to public opinion and mobilization
Bitchat has been used during protests in multiple countries
The app remains available outside China and continues to see downloads

Apple has removed Bitchat from its App Store in China after a request from the country's internet regulator. The decision affects both the public version of the app and its TestFlight beta, which are no longer available in the region. The app was created by Jack Dorsey, through his company Block. In a post shared on X, Dorsey confirmed the removal and included a message from Apple's app review team explaining the decision.

"Bitchat pulled from the China App Store," jack said.

According to that message, the removal came at the request of the Cyberspace Administration of China. Apple also noted that all apps on its platform must comply with local regulations in the regions where they are offered. However, This is not unusual for China's app ecosystem. Companies often have to follow strict local rules if they want to remain available in the country. In this case, the focus was on how Bitchat works and what it allows users to do.

Why Regulators Took Action

The Cyberspace Administration of China pointed to a specific rule when requesting the removal. It said Bitchat violated Article 3 of its regulations for online services that can influence public opinion or support social mobilization. Under these rules, platforms with that kind of impact are expected to go through a security assessment before launch and take responsibility for the outcome.

Source

Bitchat's design likely played a key role in this decision. Unlike most messaging apps, it doesn't rely on internet access. Instead, it uses Bluetooth and mesh networking to connect devices directly. That means users can send messages even when the internet is unavailable or restricted. In simple terms, phones nearby can pass messages between each other, creating a network without central servers. This setup makes the app harder to monitor or control through traditional methods. For regulators focused on managing online communication, that creates a different kind of challenge. That may be because the app was flagged under rules related to public opinion and mobilization.

Usage During Protests and Global Growth

Bitchat has drawn attention in recent months because it has been used during protests. In countries like Madagascar, Uganda, Nepal, Indonesia, and Iran, the app has been used when governments restricted internet access or limited traditional communication channels. In those situations, tools that don't rely on the internet can still function. That real-world use has helped drive adoption. Download data shows the app has crossed more than three million installs on Chrome platforms, with over 92,000 downloads in just the past week. On the Google Play Store, it has passed one million downloads. The exact regions behind most of that activity are not clearly defined, but the trend shows growing interest.

Despite the removal in China, the app is still available in other countries. Apple confirmed that the restriction applies only to the Chinese App Store. However, when compared to domestic platforms like Tencent's WeChat, which has around 810 million users in China alone. That scale clearly reflects tightly controlled and locally focused markets. Bitchat operates in a very different way, both technically and structurally. That difference is part of its appeal and also part of the reason it faces limits in certain regions.

Where This Leaves Bitchat

The removal of Bitchat in China for Apple, the decision follows a familiar pattern. The company continues to operate in China by aligning its App Store with regulatory requirements, even when it involves removing apps. For Dorsey and the team behind Bitchat, the situation highlights the limits of building tools that operate outside traditional systems. Even if the app itself doesn't rely on the internet, distribution still depends on platforms like app stores.

At the same time, interest in this type of messaging isn't slowing down. As more users look for ways to communicate without relying on central networks, apps like Bitchat are likely to keep drawing attention. The bigger question is different regulatory environments. In some regions, they may continue to grow without much friction. In others, especially where control over communication is tightly managed, the path forward may be less clear.