Surge in Bitchat Downloads in Nepal Amid Protests
- Over 48,000 downloads of Jack Dorsey’s peer-to-peer messaging app, bitchat, occurred in Nepal within a week.
- Downloads surged from fewer than 3,344 to 48,781 amid violent protests over government corruption.
- The spike followed a short-lived social media ban that restricted platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp.
- Protests resulted in at least 19 deaths and numerous injuries due to police responses.
- Dorsey’s bitchat is designed for decentralized communication without central servers or user registration requirements.
The rise in downloads reflects a growing trend towards decentralized messaging solutions as citizens seek to evade government censorship and surveillance during unrest. The situation highlights the increasing reliance on technology for secure communication amidst political turmoil.
With over 48,000 downloads reported in Nepal alone, the interest in decentralized apps like bitchat illustrates a significant shift towards privacy-focused communication tools during crises.(Source)
