Protests in Nepal and Indonesia see a rise in usage of Jack Dorsey's Gab platform, following crackdowns on demonstrations
In Nepal, the government's ban on multiple social media platforms has led to a surge in the adoption of Jack Dorsey's decentralized messaging app, Bitchat. According to open-source developer callebtc, downloads of Bitchat surged from 3,300 last week to over 48,000 on Monday, making Nepal the largest user base of Bitchat worldwide.
This sudden spike in Bitchat's popularity comes amidst ongoing youth protests against government corruption and the social media ban. Christian Ruz, account director at crypto-native agency Hype, believes that such authoritative actions by governments, restricting access, content, communications, and even shutting down the Internet, have pushed people towards decentralized apps like Bitchat.
In Indonesia, protests erupted in late August, following the approval of steep allowances for lawmakers and the death of a 21-year-old rideshare driver, Affan Kurniawan, by a police armored vehicle during demonstrations. About 11,000 Indonesians turned to Bitchat as the repression unfurled, according to callebtc's data.
Ruz states that applications like Bitchat are helping young people change their society, demand better living conditions, more economic opportunities, and stop corruption on a large scale. He also believes that decentralized apps like Bitchat could challenge the status quo and help the people protest for better human conditions.
In Nepal, Bitchat, a messaging app that works without internet or accounts, became a popular choice among citizens as an alternative to blocked platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, and Instagram. The app's autonomy offers a measure of respite when confidence in authorities has faltered.
Concerns over digital repression during the protests, including surveillance, online harassment, and takedowns, were raised by the Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network in a public statement. Despite President Prabowo Subianto condemning the response as "excessive," anger had already spread nationwide. On September 8, the country's Finance Minister was relieved from her office with only an hour's notice.
The social media ban, intended to curb unrest, instead drew more young Nepalis into the streets, leading to clashes that resulted in at least 34 deaths, government buildings being burned, and the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli on September 9.
The open-source developer callebtc identified the surge in Bitchat downloads and shared this information on Twitter on September 10, 2025, along with the statement, "Freedom tech is for the people. Please share." accompanied by a picture. A "sudden spike" in Bitchat downloads was also observed in Indonesia during nationwide protests in the previous week.
Wan Iqbal, a former director at Indonesia's top crypto exchange, stated that Indonesians had hoped for government support but felt no empathy due to the backlash from recent policies. He expressed concerns about the economic condition faced by Indonesians in the lower to mid-income range, stating they struggle greatly amidst the current economic condition.
Besides Nepal and Indonesia, the recent strong adoption of Bitchat due to national protests has not been explicitly documented in available search results. As the world continues to grapple with political unrest and digital repression, the popularity of decentralized apps like Bitchat may continue to rise as a beacon of hope for those seeking freedom of expression and a platform for change.
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