Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey is building a messaging App named 'Bitchat', which requires no phone number, mobile internet or Wi-Fi to operate, instead leveraging the bluetooth capabilities built into nearly every device to create mesh networks on peers.
In an X post on Sunday, Dorsey wrote that he spent his weekend creating the app.
Bitchat aims to deliver completely decentralised communication using Bluetooth mesh networks, launching as an alternative to traditional messaging services.
The app is currently undergoing beta testing on Apple's TestFlight, and as of today, it has released its Android port of the original iOS app, following its mission statement of "100% protocol compatibility for cross-platform communication", according to its GitHub page.
Resilient tech in a world of digital oppression
Dorsey says in the Bitchat whitepaper that the App is "resilient to network outages and censorship," which means it is designed to withstand internet shutdowns, government crackdowns and censorships, and natural disaster scenarios where traditional networks fail.
The implications will no doubt be tremendous.
As early as 2019, another Bluetooth messaging app, Bridgefy, was reportedly used by pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong to outsmart the Chinese radar.
While regular messaging apps, emails, and mobile networks fall prey to government surveillance and monitoring, Bitchat can retain communication and provide anonymity to users.
Last Year, during the July movement, Bangladesh saw its most violent crackdown on public life and freedom.
The toppled Awami League government illegally enforced an internet shutdown from July 18 to 28, and again from August 4-5 after a brief respite.
The incident was eye-opening for many Bangladeshis, whose voices added to global concern over digital security and privacy in a time marked by growing authoritarianism and information trafficking.
How does Bitchat stand out
Although Bluetooth's limited range imposes technical limitations on its network capabilities, Dorsey claims on his X post that Bitchat will provide an extended range of more than 300 meters via message relays through peers. There are plans for future updates to increase the range.
Other key features that were highlighted include:
- Decentralised: No servers, no infrastructure dependencies with automatic peer discovery and mesh networking
- Private first: No phone numbers, emails, or permanent identifiers
- Ephemeral: Messages exist only in device memory by default
- Encrypted: End-to-end encryption for private messages with the Emergency Wipe system to instantly clear all data
- Cross-platform compatible: Full protocol compatibility with iOS bitchat
- Channel-based chats: Topic-based group messaging with optional password protection
- Battery optimisation: Adaptive scanning and power management
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