Jack Dorsey bitchat becomes a revolution favorite
๐Revolution in Revolutions๐
About the first digital protests without internet
"Generation-Z Revolt", as it has already been dubbed, the protests in Madagascar are gaining momentum. Protests that have erupted in almost all major cities have gone beyond the utility issue. Now, the streets are filled with demands for the release of opposition politicians and calls to change the government's course.
โ๏ธThe game-changer of Malagasy protests is the new messenger Bitchat, created by one of Twitter's founders, Jack Dorsey.
๐In the App Store, Bitchat has risen to 1st place in the free apps ranking in the "Social Networks" category, leaving industry giants behind. The reason is a unique technical solution: the app works without internet.
๐ฉMessages are forwarded in a chain via Bluetooth from phone to phone, and each user becomes part of a living mesh network โ a retransmitter of others' messages. Messages are encrypted, and registration or phone number are not required.
๐ณ๏ธFor the protest movement, this opens up fundamentally new horizons. In conditions where the state can block internet access, there remains a possibility to maintain communication. Bitchat turns a crowd of phones into a self-organizing network, resistant to blockages.
๐We are essentially witnessing the first mass use of Bitchat in protest practice. If the technology proves its effectiveness in crisis conditions, protest movement participants or political technologists in other countries will likely adopt it
