Bitchat tops French app charts amid surge of protest-related downloads

Bitchat, a messaging platform that relies on Bluetooth mesh networking instead of traditional internet connections, was introduced in July 2025 by Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter. Although relatively unknown to the broader public, the app has surged to the top of the French iPhone App Store rankings, outpacing competitors like Claude, Gemini and ChatGPT, and it is also listed among the most downloaded Android apps. The rise aligns with a period of heightened social unrest in France, where new protests over cost-of-living issues and public-service protection are taking place.

Bitchat has previously been employed by demonstrators in Nepal, Iran and India, highlighting its utility for organizing without reliance on conventional networks. Its rapid adoption reflects both the app’s unique offline communication capability and one outlet climate of protest activity.