India issued takedown notice on Bluetooth chat app ‘Bitchat’, says Dorsey

India has issued a takedown notice for the Bluetooth-based chat application 'Bitchat,' a move confirmed by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey. The specifics of the notice and the reasons behind it remain unclear, but the action comes at a time when authorities have frequently suspended mobile internet services in the vicinity of Delhi's Jantar Mantar.

Protests have been ongoing at Jantar Mantar, a site historically used for demonstrations in the Indian capital. The repeated internet shutdowns in the area have drawn criticism and raised concerns about freedom of expression and access to information.

While the direct link between the Bitchat takedown and the protests is not explicitly stated, the timing suggests a potential connection to authorities' efforts to control information flow or communication during periods of civil unrest. The app's reliance on Bluetooth for communication could be a factor in its targeting, potentially allowing for communication networks that are harder to monitor or shut down remotely.