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Government orders GitHub to remove Bluetooth-based chat app Bitchat: Jack Dorsey

thehindu.com

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Re: Government orders GitHub to remove Bluetooth-based chat app Bitchat: Jack Dorsey

#41

Post by josefresco »

golemotron wrote: post #39
lebuffon wrote: post #21

India is kind of cute. In the late 90s I attended a Telephone industry conference while working for a telephony test equipment company. A rep. from the Indian government gave a talk on their telephone system regulations. During the question period I got up and asked how India was dealing with voice over internet protocol (VOIP). With a straight face the speaker replied "We will not allow it". :-)

Reminds me of Elon's answer to the question of what various countries can do about StarLink: "They can shake their fists at the sky."

Starlink can be jammed.

Re: Government orders GitHub to remove Bluetooth-based chat app Bitchat: Jack Dorsey

#42

Post by Barbing »

soulofmischief wrote: post #32
miohtama wrote: post #9

If Modi government wants to ban something, it is usually good stuff. > “The application’s design, which enables communication even during network restrictions, creates a substantial risk of misuse by anti-national elements, terrorist organisations, organised criminal groups, and cybercriminals seeking to evade lawful detection and continue communication despite legally imposed restrictions,” the notice mentioned.

Literally any encrypted mesh net communication protocol would be subject to the same propaganda. The point of this stuff is providing checks and balances for the people against a rogue government, or emergency situation. Yeah, did you know criminals can use roads to commit crimes, too? We should destroy all of the roads. Terrorists also use food to give them energy to commit more terrorism, so we should start regulat…

Honestly no idea what I’d do if I were in government.

Originally you’d communicate by mail and they could get a warrant. The day encrypted comms showed up, they wouldn’t just want to give up.

If you love the encryption but hate the terrorism, what to do? Double down on old school / physical surveillance? (Obviously not my field)

Re: Government orders GitHub to remove Bluetooth-based chat app Bitchat: Jack Dorsey

#43

Post by mothballed »

ranger_danger wrote: post #22
iambenm wrote: post #17

India is pretty serious about being able to monitor all communications after the terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008. The terrorists used satellite phones to coordinate the attack. As a result, they banned most satellite communication devices. I learned about this earlier this year because I had a connecting flight through India on the way to go trekking in the Himalayas. I had planned to take a Garmin inReach with me,…

So what happens if you have a flight that gets diverted to India and they search your bags and find a satellite phone?

I'm aware of stories of people who've had their flights unexpectedly grounded in New York (, New York) so they just abandoned their checked pistol and refused to collect it. I'd imagine something similar. If you never take possession, it becomes harder to charge and convict someone for possession.

Re: Government orders GitHub to remove Bluetooth-based chat app Bitchat: Jack Dorsey

#44

Post by throw9393399 »

soulofmischief wrote: post #32
miohtama wrote: post #9

If Modi government wants to ban something, it is usually good stuff. > “The application’s design, which enables communication even during network restrictions, creates a substantial risk of misuse by anti-national elements, terrorist organisations, organised criminal groups, and cybercriminals seeking to evade lawful detection and continue communication despite legally imposed restrictions,” the notice mentioned.

Literally any encrypted mesh net communication protocol would be subject to the same propaganda. The point of this stuff is providing checks and balances for the people against a rogue government, or emergency situation. Yeah, did you know criminals can use roads to commit crimes, too? We should destroy all of the roads. Terrorists also use food to give them energy to commit more terrorism, so we should start regulat…

We do regulate food. Tons of substances are not allowed.

We also regulate roads. You can not drive around in tanks. Or without license plate...

Re: Government orders GitHub to remove Bluetooth-based chat app Bitchat: Jack Dorsey

#45

Post by __coder__ »

abhisek wrote: post #33

#2 post on HN currently is: India’s first privately developed rocket reaches orbit on dramatic debut launch. In the same page, there is this news about banning an OSS app, built on open tech. Just saying.

2 Indias

Re: Government orders GitHub to remove Bluetooth-based chat app Bitchat: Jack Dorsey

#46

Post by josefresco »

SpyCoder77 wrote: post #19

Title should specify that it is Indian government. I was worried for a second there that it was the American government. I should have read the url though.

> I was worried for a second there that it was the American government.

Midterms are coming up and the regime has spoken openly about "rigging" them so... just give it some time (and download a copy!).

Re: Government orders GitHub to remove Bluetooth-based chat app Bitchat: Jack Dorsey

#48

Post by mcherm »

Barbing wrote: post #42
soulofmischief wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Literally any encrypted mesh net communication protocol would be subject to the same propaganda. The point of this stuff is providing checks and balances for the people against a rogue government, or emergency situation. Yeah, did you know criminals can use roads to commit crimes, too? We should destroy all of the roads. Terrorists also use food to give them energy to commit more terrorism, so we should start regulat…

Honestly no idea what I’d do if I were in government. Originally you’d communicate by mail and they could get a warrant. The day encrypted comms showed up, they wouldn’t just want to give up. If you love the encryption but hate the terrorism, what to do? Double down on old school / physical surveillance? (Obviously not my field)

Originally, you'd communicate by mail, but some people didn't write things out in plain language; they used coated messages.

That was why the government decided to ban mail, and since that didn't cover all cases, they also banned people handing things to each other.

At least, I think that is how I remember it going in an alternate world where physical laws mimiced electronic laws.

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