Apple Removes Bitchat from China App Store Over Legal Issues
- Apple removed Bitchat from the China App Store on February 28, 2026.
- The Cyberspace Administration of China claims Bitchat violates Article 3 of its security assessment provisions.
- Bitchat reached a user limit of 10,000 on Testflight before its removal in early 2026.
- The app was flagged for “social mobilization” capabilities due to its Bluetooth mesh networking feature.
Block Inc.’s CEO Jack Dorsey was notified by Apple about the app’s removal following a demand from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC). The CAC cited non-compliance with local security regulations as the reason for this action.
Despite being removed from the Chinese market, Bitchat remains available globally through App Store Connect, highlighting regional regulatory challenges for decentralized applications. (Source)
