APPLE REMOVES JACK DORSEY'S BITCHAT FROM CHINA APP STORE

Jack Dorsey's Bitchat messaging app got pulled from Apple's China store following a Cyberspace Administration of China takedown request. The app uses Bluetooth relayers to let users message without needing internet connection — exactly the kind of decentralized infrastructure Beijing sees as a threat.

This isn't surprising given China's track record, but it shows how quickly governments can isolate apps that bypass traditional infrastructure. Decentralized comms tools are on every regulator's radar right now, especially ones tied to crypto figures.

The bigger picture: apps that don't need traditional networks are becoming targets globally, not just in China. If Bitchat gains traction elsewhere, expect similar pressure from other governments wanting control over data flows.

The fact that Bluetooth mesh still works even without the app store tells you something — decentralization isn't really about where you download it from.