Apple removes Jack Dorsey’s Bitchat from China App Store at regulator request

Apple pulled Bitchat, a decentralized peer-to-peer messaging app built by Block CEO Jack Dorsey, from the China App Store at the request of the Cyberspace Administration of China. Dorsey wrote on X that Apple’s app review team informed him the takedown applies to both the public listing and the TestFlight beta in mainland China, while access in other markets remains unchanged.

According to Dorsey, the regulator cited rules for online services with “public opinion or social mobilization capabilities,” which require a security assessment before launch. Based on that notice, the app cannot be distributed through Apple’s storefront in China unless those conditions are met.

Bitchat runs entirely over Bluetooth and local mesh networks without an internet connection. That design reduces the impact of internet disruptions and firewall filtering. The app has drawn users during disruptions to online services, including protests in Madagascar, Uganda, Nepal, Indonesia, and Iran, where authorities sought to restrict connectivity.

The app has surpassed three million downloads across platforms, with more than 92,000 installs in the past week, according to figures Dorsey shared. On Android, the Google Play Store shows over one million registered downloads. Regional breakdowns were not provided.

Apple’s action limits distribution only within China’s App Store and TestFlight. No changes have been announced in other regions, and Bitchat remains available outside China.