Kerala High Court Questions Centre on BitChat Ban, Citing Digital Rights Alarm

In a significant move, the Kerala High Court has asked the Centre, Apple, and Google to file their detailed responses within four weeks regarding the blocking of the BitChat messaging app in India. This order comes after a petition challenged the government's decision to ban the app, which is known for working even without an internet connection, raising big questions about digital freedom and how online apps are controlled in the country. The BitChat app, developed by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, was removed from Indian app stores earlier this month by the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), citing that it 'includes content that is illegal in India' under Section 69A of the IT Act. However, no specific 'illegal content' has been publicly named, leading digital rights groups like the Internet Freedom Foundation to argue that the block is unconstitutional and lacks transparency. The government's core concern appears to be that BitChat ability to create a 'Bluetooth mesh network' allows users to communicate during internet shutdowns, making it difficult for law enforcement to monitor communications and posing a 'law-and-order risk'. This legal challenge by the Appropriate Technology Promotion Society forces the Centre to openly explain its reasoning for the ban. The outcome of this case will be closely watched, as it could set an important example for how India's government regulates messaging applications and balances national security concerns with citizens' rights to communicate and access information, especially when internet services are restricted. The court's demand for affidavits from tech giants like Apple and Google also highlights their crucial role in upholding or challenging government directives in different countries.