Do you use a social network without the Internet, without Wi-Fi and even without SIM card? This is Bitchat’s promise, the new application of Jack Dorsy, the founder of Twitter. This July 28, the American entrepreneur announced the launch of this new application through an X message.
Developers behind Bitchat began from a simple observation: networks are often saturated during important events, for example, during concerts or festivals. Natural disasters can also blur the connection. Finally, there are still many white areas where no network passes.
A relay system through Bluetooth
Therefore, they decided to create a usable platform without the Internet or mobile network. Enough to guarantee Internet users the possibility of communicating even in case of a cut or saturation of the network. Therefore, Bitchat is not intended to replace WhatsApp. Rather to provide an ephemeral communication solution in an emergency.
To do this, the application is based on the Bluetooth connection. Thanks to this system, two phones can exchange messages without going through a server or operator if they are within 300 meters. With Bitchat, each phone temporarily plays the broadcasting paper to circulate the device message on a device until you reach the recipient.
Therefore, messaging allows you to communicate with your loved ones, provided that other phones are close, without the need to save an email address or a phone number.
Several conditions are necessary for the relay to work. Each device on the message route must have the installed application and the activated Bluetooth. And without a phone within a radius of 300 meters, the message will not be sent.
To protect Internet users, the numerical application exchanged all messages. Bitchat also offers a “panic” mode that immediately erases all data. To do this, simply press the Bitchat logo three times.
Other similar applications
This is not the first time that a social network is proud to operate without the Internet. This is also Firechat’s case. With this platform that also uses Bluetooth, it is enough to be less than 70 meters from another Firechat user to communicate. The application had allowed the prodemocratic protesters in Hong Kong to communicate with each other during the manifestations of September 2014.
Bridgefy, another messaging application, also works in the same system. It is regularly presented in Reddit forums dedicated to conflict in Ukraine. Only inconvenience: The application is often subject to errors, according to Internet users who do not give it more than 3.1 stars of 5 in Play Store.
However, these technologies, created to help in case of a problem, could deviate. In fact, in the absence of moderation, it is impossible to control the disseminated content. In August 2024, Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, was accused of not avoiding the circulation of pedocriminal content on its platform. For his part, Bridgefy also set at 2020 for his deplorable security level.
Source: BFM TV
