this post was submitted on 06 Aug 2026
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Technology

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The offline messaging apps challenging internet shutdowns (restofworld.org)
submitted 1 day ago by alyaza@beehaw.org to c/technology@beehaw.org
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Governments that deploy internet shutdowns to thwart protesters have struggled to clamp down on offline messaging apps. India’s recent response to Jack Dorsey’s Bitchat suggests that battle is entering a new phase.

Bitchat, launched by the Twitter co-founder in 2025, allows nearby phones to communicate over Bluetooth even when mobile networks or internet access are unavailable. Last month, the app had its biggest real-world test after authorities shut down internet access during student protests in New Delhi.

As protesters turned to Bitchat, the Indian government tried to block access to the app’s source code on GitHub, a Microsoft-owned platform that allows developers to create, store, manage, and share their code. In the past, the Indian government has blocked apps from official app stores due to various reasons, but digital rights advocates say this appears to be the first known attempt to geoblock an open-source software repository.

The episode highlights a growing challenge for governments.

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[–] JillyB@beehaw.org 2 points 17 hours ago

I'm not that knowledgeable about this stuff but I think meshtastic would have better range due to running over lora. That's the whole reason you need a separate radio for the communication to a node. Also the nodes require very little power. You can set up one with a small solar cell for cheap and just leave it somewhere. Black Flag Civilian and Benn Jordan both have plans to make your own nodes. There are plenty of others out there.