Transcript
Here’s your Tech Brief update from July 16
Jack Dorsey is back with a new messaging app that doesn’t need a phone number, an email, or even an internet connection.
The app is called BitChat, and it’s built on the open-source mesh messaging protocol Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), allowing users to send encrypted messages peer-to-peer—entirely offline. Think Apple’s AirDrop meets Signal, but without the central servers.
BitChat was launched by Dorsey-backed startup Bluesky Valley and is already available in beta for Android, with iOS on the roadmap.
So why should CIOs and CISOs pay attention?
First, BitChat is part of a broader trend toward decentralised, surveillance-resistant communication tools—relevant in a time when trust in Big Tech platforms is shaky and geopolitical tensions are raising questions about data sovereignty.
Second, this kind of mesh-based tech could redefine secure communications in critical settings—from disaster zones and protest movements to high-security enterprise environments. In sectors like defence, healthcare, or mining—especially in remote Australian regions—mesh messaging offers a fallback when networks go down or aren’t available.
But there’s also a risk dimension.
Decentralised, anonymous communication channels can become hard to monitor, regulate, or control, creating potential for misuse—something enterprise security teams and regulators will need to grapple with if adoption grows.
In short, BitChat is more than just another messaging app. It’s a glimpse into a future where connectivity isn’t dependent on infrastructure, and where data control shifts from the cloud to the individual.
Thanks for tuning in. You’ll find links and more insights at Coffeehouse.studio or in the show notes.
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