Internet Freedom Foundation calls India’s BitChat GitHub takedown order ‘unconstitutional’
Cointelegraph 2026-07-24 16:04:30
Context: The Internet Freedom Foundation, a digital rights group, has challenged the Indian government's order to remove repositories of BitChat, a project by Jack Dorsey, from GitHub, citing concerns over free speech and constitutional rights. The order was issued by the Indian government, which claims the platform promotes secessionist and terrorist content. The move has sparked a heated debate over censorship and online freedom.
Key Facts
- The Internet Freedom Foundation argues that the Indian government's order to take down BitChat repositories from GitHub exceeds the government's legal authority and poses a significant threat to free speech in the country.
- The BitChat project, founded by Jack Dorsey, is an open-source platform that allows users to create decentralized social networks, which has raised concerns among authorities about potential misuse.
- The Indian government's order to GitHub was made under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, which empowers the government to block access to online content deemed threatening to national security or public order.