IFF says govt order to GitHub on BitChat unconstitutional, demands its withdrawal

The app allows anonymous communication without mandatory user registration, phone number verification or centralised logging of messagesNEW DELHI: Digital rights advocacy group Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) has termed govt's order directing GitHub to remove the source code repositories of Bluetooth-based messaging app BitChat "unconstitutional and authoritarian".In a statement Friday, IFF said the order, issued by Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the home ministry, directed GitHub to disable access to three BitChat repositories, including the Android application and release files, within three hours. It added that the order warned the platform of loss of safe harbour protection and possible criminal prosecution for non-compliance.It argued govt relied on Section 79(3)