Bitchat Downloads Surge in Madagascar Amid Protests Over Utility Shortages

Jack Dorsey's decentralized messaging app, Bitchat, has seen a dramatic spike in downloads in Madagascar as protests over water and power shortages escalate. The unrest, which began last Thursday, has led to the dismissal of the energy minister and the imposition of a dusk-to-dawn curfew.

Google Trends data reveals that searches for Bitchat skyrocketed from 0 to 100 on Friday, with Antananarivo, the capital, driving the majority of queries. Top searches included 'Bitchat download' and 'how to use Bitchat,' underscoring the app's sudden relevance. Chrome-Stats reports 21,000 downloads in the past 24 hours and over 71,000 in the past week, with Madagascar accounting for the bulk of the surge.

Bitchat's peer-to-peer design, which operates via Bluetooth mesh networks, allows messaging without internet access or centralized servers—a critical feature during government-imposed disruptions. The U.S. Embassy in Madagascar has issued alerts as clashes between protesters and police turn violent.