The Cyberspace Administration of China has ordered Apple to remove Jack Dorsey’s Bitchat from its China App Store, citing regulations that require apps with “social mobilization” capabilities to pass a government security assessment before release.
Summary
- The Cyberspace Administration of China told Apple to remove Bitchat from its China App Store and its TestFlight beta, starting in February 2026, a ban Dorsey publicly revealed on April 5.
- The CAC cited Article 3 of its regulations governing applications with “social mobilization or public opinion capabilities,” which requires a mandatory security review before implementation.
- Bitchat, which runs entirely over Bluetooth mesh networks without the need for the Internet, has surpassed three million downloads worldwide and was widely used by protesters in Iran, Uganda, Nepal and Indonesia to avoid government shutdowns.
Block CEO Jack Dorsey confirmed on X that his decentralized messaging app, Bitchat, was removed from the China App Store in February 2026 at the direct request of the Cyberspace Administration of China. Like crypto.news reportedThe CAC cited Article 3 of its regulations covering online services with “social mobilization or public opinion capabilities,” a provision that has been in effect since 2018 and requires a state security assessment before any such platform can be launched. Both the App Store listing and the TestFlight beta are now unavailable in China, although the app remains accessible in all other markets.
Bitchat’s core design is what put it on Beijing’s radar. The app works entirely over Bluetooth and mesh networks, and does not require an Internet connection. That architecture makes it functionally immune to conventional government filtering and firewall blocking, the same tools China relies on to manage digital communication.
That design has given Bitchat a huge role during political unrest. Protesters in Iran used it to communicate as authorities attempted to restrict connectivity during the ongoing conflict. Like crypto.news documentedBitchat also emerged in Uganda ahead of the 2026 general election, where opposition leader Bobi Wine actively urged his followers to download it in preparation for expected internet shutdowns. Authorities in Nepal, Madagascar, and Indonesia have also seen increases in Bitchat adoption during periods of restricted connectivity.
Apple’s review team sent Dorsey a direct message along with the takedown notice: “We know this is complicated, but it is your responsibility to understand and make sure your app complies with all local laws.”
Three million downloads and counting
Despite the ban, Bitchat’s global reach continues to expand. Chrome download statistics show that the app has surpassed three million total downloads, with more than 92,000 recorded last week alone. Google Play Store reports over one million installs. Regional breakdowns are not publicly available.
Dorsey first launched Bitchat in beta through Apple’s TestFlight in July 2025, framing it as a weekend experiment in Bluetooth mesh networking. The app encrypts messages using AES-256, stores all data only in the device’s memory instead of on central servers, and is compatible with Bitcoin. proceedings natively. Billionaire fund manager Bill Ackman publicly called it a handy tool for censored environments like Iran.
The App Store as the only lever
What makes China’s move notable is the mechanism chosen. Bitchat has no central servers to press, no user accounts to keep an eye on, and no phone number requirements. Its decentralized design offers regulators virtually no conventional choke points to target. Force removal from the App Store is one of the few tools available and does not affect the operation of the app for users who already have it installed or access it through other means.
