Now Reading: Jack Dorsey wrong on Bitchat, India’s takedown order is lawful
-
01
Jack Dorsey wrong on Bitchat, India’s takedown order is lawful
Jack Dorsey's criticism of India's order to block the Bitchat app is misguided, argues Hindustan Times. The order, issued during student protests in Central Delhi, directed GitHub to block the Bluetooth-based messaging…
The Story in Brief
Jack Dorsey's criticism of India's order to block the Bitchat app is misguided, argues Hindustan Times. The order, issued during student protests in Central Delhi, directed GitHub to block the Bluetooth-based messaging app that lets users evade government surveillance. Dorsey called the move proof that India dislikes such technologies. The government and the Karnataka High Court maintain the action is lawful under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act.
The app's emergency uses, the futility of controlling open-source code, and the order's legality are the three main criticisms. The High Court's 2025 ruling in X v. Union of India upheld the use of Section 79(3)(b) for such blocks, prioritising prompt action over slower statutory procedures. The emergency-use argument fails because useful tools are not automatically permissible during disturbances, and legal challenges to the order remain possible.
The Indian Opinion
Dorsey's slogan 'no state is the best state' sounds noble from a man whose wealth rests on state protection. The IFF's legal critique is also selective, ignoring the Karnataka court ruling. India has a right to stop tools that let people dodge law enforcement in a crisis. The question is whether the government can prove Bitchat was actually used to incite violence. Watch for the next court review to see if the block survives legal scrutiny on those grounds.
Source: hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
