BitChat: What is this new social network that works offline?

Sending messages without Wi-Fi, without 5G, and without even a SIM card. This is the somewhat utopian gamble of BitChat, an encrypted messaging application still in the testing phase, launched in early August by Jack Dorsey, the founder of Twitter and the Bluesky messaging service.

To achieve what seems like a magic trick, BitChat relies on Bluetooth technology and a so-called " peer-to-peer " communication system. In concrete terms, two phones can exchange messages directly, without going through a central server or a telephone company. Thus, no registration is required: neither email address nor phone number. Messages are not stored on servers, but only in the device's temporary memory, then are automatically deleted once read. In case of emergency, a " panic " mode even allows all data to be instantly erased. The messaging service therefore allows for anonymous and traceless exchanges.

For the message to reach its recipient, other users of the app must be nearby. This technology relies on what's called a " local mesh network ": each phone temporarily acts as a relay. When you send a message, it's transmitted from one phone to another within a radius of 300 meters, until it reaches its destination. But for this to work, every device in the message's path must have the app installed and Bluetooth enabled.

If no relays are available nearby, the message remains blocked. This makes BitChat effective in crowded places, such as demonstrations, concerts, or festivals. But in sparsely populated or isolated areas, the application quickly becomes useless due to a lack of available relays.

This freedom comes at a price. By removing all forms of control, messaging is exposed to abuse. Without moderation, it becomes impossible to control the content distributed. Violent groups could use it to organize actions or disseminate illegal content.

Encrypted messaging services like Telegram and Signal have already been singled out for this type of use. In France, in 2024, Telegram founder Pavel Durov was indicted for failing to prevent the circulation of child sex abuse content on his platform. On WhatsApp, closed groups have also been used to spread false information or illicit images. The application could also be of interest to NGOs, journalists, or activists operating in war zones or who are experiencing restrictions on their freedom .

Currently, the social network has not yet been tested by cybersecurity experts. However, if the system is not sufficiently protected, Bluetooth could be used to track a phone's location or intercept communications. The encryption used has also not yet been verified.

BitChat is part of a broader dynamic driven by the rise of anonymous, secure, and decentralized messaging. Like Signal, Briar, and Session, these applications are attracting an increasingly broad audience, seduced by a clear promise: no advertising, no profiling, and no surveillance.

This alternative model is gaining ground in a climate of growing distrust toward digital giants. In 2023, 61% of French people said they did not trust them to protect their data, according to an Ifop survey. The following year, the CNIL recorded 5,629 personal data breaches, a 20% increase compared to 2023, with the number of incidents affecting more than a million people doubling year-on-year.