Apple has removed Bitchat, the decentralized messaging app created by Bitcoin advocate Jack Dorsey, from China's App Store following regulatory action by the Cyberspace Administration of China.
Chinese authorities cited violations of Article 3 regarding services capable of influencing public opinion or mobilization. The app remains accessible outside China but new downloads are blocked within the country.
Bitchat operates using peer-to-peer technology and Bluetooth connections, making it resistant to traditional censorship methods. Existing users in China can still communicate through mesh networks despite the App Store removal.
The takedown exemplifies Beijing's ongoing efforts to control decentralized communication platforms that operate outside standard regulatory frameworks.