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The Kerala High Court has sought a response from the Centre on a plea challenging the blocking of the open-source messaging application BitChat. | Photo Credit: MICHAEL SHORT

The Kerala High Court has sought a response from the Centre on a plea challenging the blocking of the open-source messaging application BitChat.

Bitchat, by GitHub, is an open-source messaging app that works over Bluetooth, with no internet needed. It became popular during the internet shutdowns in Delhi in July 2026.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) reportedly issued an order, in October, under the Information Technology Act to block the app and its website.

Following the direction, mobile phone manufacturer Apple removed the app from its India App Store and Google removed it from its Play Store, according to the petitioner -- Ernakulam-based Appropriate Technology Promotion Society.

A bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V M directed the Ministries of Home Affairs, Information and Broadcasting and Information Technology as well as Apple India and Google India to file affidavits on the issue of blocking the app.

At the same time, the bench said it was keeping the issue of maintainability of the petition, raised by the central government, open.

The court listed the matter for further hearing on November 11.

Published on October 18, 2026

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