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Ahmed Balaha
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Apple has fired Jack Dorsey Bitchat from the App Store in China at the request of the Cyberspace Administration of China, which cited violations of Internet service laws.
The removal, which was confirmed by Mr. Dorsey through the X post on April 6, 2026, extends to the TestFlight beta, and cuts off the official distribution channel of the program in the country.
The real issue is not the removal itself. It is said that Bitchat operates on a Bluetooth Low Energy mesh network independent of the Internet – and Beijing has moved to remove it, indicating that Chinese regulators are now looking at communication components that do not involve the Internet at all.
- What happened: Apple removed Bitchat from the Chinese App Store in February 2026 and suspended TestFlight’s beta availability at the Cyberspace Administration of China’s request.
- The Regulatory Hook: The CAC cited Section 3 of its 2018 rules governing services with public opinion or advocacy potential, which require a security assessment before implementation.
- How Bitchat Works: The app runs on Bluetooth Low Energy mesh networks, sending messages and Bitcoin transaction data device-to-device up to 100 meters per hop – no Wi-Fi, no cellular, no servers.
- Existing Installation Countries Not Affected: Devices already running Bitchat in China continue to work well; The app requires no access to the App Store or a server login check.
- Global Challenge: Bitchat has seen a surge in internet downloads in Madagascar, Uganda, Nepal, Indonesia, and Iran in recent months.
- Must Watch: Android sideloading activities in China and whether CAC is against similar BLE applications related to communication between 2026 which is growing.
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What Beijing CAC Really Did – and Why Jack Dorsey’s Bluetooth App Threatened the Firewall
The Cyberspace Administration in ChinaThe current regime is based on legislation that came into force in November 2018, targeting any online activity that may attract public interest or influence the public.
Under these laws, the software used must complete a government security review before installation and be held accountable for its results.
Bitchat’s architecture makes CAC transactions popular. The program does not affect the Chinese Internet infrastructure – it jumps Bluetooth signals between devices, each hop can reach 100 meters, without a central server, user accounts, and phone number.
Beijing’s decision to opt out through Apple instead of connecting to the network shows the limits of the Great Firewall against protocols outside the Internet: when you fail to block traffic, you end up targeting distribution points.
Apple’s response was swift and vague. The app’s review team told Dorsey directly that all App Store titles must comply with local laws in each market – and that apps that support practices that appear to be illegal or reckless are rejected.
This arrangement gives Apple a big relief: the company acts as a subsidiary of any government that has sufficient control over its App Store.
Community watchers on Binance Square documented the incident immediately, with posts arguing that Apple is following suit. “It shows the vulnerability of Big Tech to government pressure, pushing devs to other unlimited possibilities.”
The view follows – but it also reduces the problem. Setting aside requires a handheld device. The removal of the App Store blocks new installations from the point of purchase, which is where censorship governments focus their power.
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