Bitchat hits No. 2 on app charts in Jamaica as Hurricane Melissa strikes

Downloads for the decentralized, peer-to-peer messaging app Bitchat surged in Jamaica as Hurricane Melissa, with 185-mile-per-hour winds, battered the Caribbean and disrupted communication infrastructure. Bitchat, which utilizes Bluetooth mesh networks for encrypted, internet-free communication, reached the second spot on both the Apple App Store and Google Play charts in Jamaica, trailing only the weather platform Zoom Earth. This highlights the critical need for communication and weather information for the 2.8 million residents as internet access falters. While decentralized apps are often adopted due to censorship concerns on centralized platforms, Bitchat has proven vital during natural disasters, having previously seen download spikes in Nepal and Indonesia amid protests and government bans. The article also briefly mentions the ongoing European Union debate over the controversial "Chat Control" law, which could impact encrypted messaging apps.

(Source：Cointelegraph)