If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Uganda’s government is signaling it may move to block Bitchat, a peer-to-peer messaging platform, just days before voters go to the polls. The warning came from Nyombi Thembo, the executive director of the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), who said the state’s technical units were prepared to disable the service if ordered. Speaking to reporters, Thembo claimed Uganda had the capacity to take such action, telling NilePost: “We have the highest concentration of software engineers and developers in this country. It is very easy for us to switch off such platforms if the need arises.” He also cautioned that Bitchat should not be viewed as a reliable workaround for potential communication limits. One of Bitchat’s open-source developers, known online as “Calle,” doubted the government could follow through, saying the platform’s design makes blocking it nearly impossible. Bitchat connects users through a Bluetooth mesh network rather than the internet or phone signal. No account setup is needed, and messages move directly between nearby devices. This architecture allows communication to continue even when authorities restrict online access, as no central servers can be targeted. The app’s user base has expanded rapidly in the past week. Calle reported that installations in Uganda have jumped by several hundred thousand, about one percent of the country’s population. The growth reflects public anxiety over a repeat of earlier information blackouts. In 2021, the Ugandan government cut internet access nationwide the day before the election, an outage that lasted more than four days. Social media and mobile payments were also periodically restricted around politically sensitive events. The unease has deepened after Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, suspended operations in Uganda following a government request. Officials said the company lacked a local license, but many citizens saw the move as an early warning of wider controls. Authorities insist there will be no internet shutdown this time. Thembo called reports of an impending blackout “mere rumors,” while the Ministry of ICT’s Permanent Secretary, Aminah Zawedde, maintained that the government “has not announced, directed, or implemented any decision to shut down the internet during the election period,” describing claims to the contrary as “false and misleading.” Officials said Starlink’s suspension was a matter of compliance rather than censorship. Still, the sequence of government interventions has left many skeptical. President Yoweri Museveni, who has led Uganda for 40 years, is again facing a challenge from opposition figure Robert Kyagulanyi, better known as musician Bobi Wine. After the 2021 shutdown, Wine alleged that the blackout concealed irregularities in the vote. This election season, he is urging citizens to install Bitchat while they still can, warning in December that the “regime is plotting an internet shutdown in the coming days.” The renewed confrontation over communications technology exposes a deeper struggle over who controls information in Uganda. Bitchat’s decentralized model, which relies on direct device-to-device links, makes censorship costly and inefficient, if not impossible. If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post Bitchat Rises as Uganda Threatens Another Digital Blackout appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

A wave of online outrage has led Hilton Hotels to cut off an independently owned hotel location in Minnesota that was refusing to allow federal immigration agents to book rooms.The Department of Homeland Security called out the famous hotel chain in a social media post on Monday, claiming that federal agents were denied service at the Hampton Inn by Hilton in the Minneapolis suburb of Lakeville.'A recent video clearly raises concerns that they are not meeting our standards and values. As such, we are taking immediate action to remove this hotel from our systems.'"[Hilton Hotels] has launched a coordinated campaign in Minneapolis to REFUSE service to DHS law enforcement," the agency said in a statement. "When officers attempted to book rooms using official government emails and rates, Hilton Hotels maliciously CANCELLED their reservations. This is UNACCEPTABLE."Hilton was immediately lambasted by many who threatened to cancel their reservations over the alleged incident.Very soon afterward, an investigation from the company led to an initial apology from the offending hotel."Everpeak Hospitality has moved swiftly to address this matter as it was inconsistent with our policy of being a welcoming place for all," the statement reads. "We are in touch with the impacted guests to ensure they are accommodated."The controversy dragged on into Tuesday, however, when evidence on social media showed that the hotel location continued refusing service to ICE.Hilton responded with a definitive action against the Lakeville hotel."The independent hotel owner had assured us that they had fixed this problem and published a message confirming this," reads a statement on social media.RELATED: Anti-ICE activists hold Home Depot operations hostage with disruptive ice-scraper stunt "A recent video clearly raises concerns that they are not meeting our standards and values. As such, we are taking immediate action to remove this hotel from our systems," the company said. "Hilton is — and has always been — a welcoming place for all. We are also engaging with all of our franchisees to reinforce the standards we hold them to across our system to help ensure this does not happen again."DHS Secretary Kristi Noem previously said the agency was sending an influx of agents to investigate fraud schemes in Minneapolis. Critics of the action have said the administration's rhetoric has led to hate speech against people in the Somali community who had nothing to do with the scams.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Republican Rep. Jim Baird of Indiana and his wife, Danise Baird, have been hospitalized following a car crash.The couple's vehicle "was struck in an accident," according to a statement from Baird's office, and Speaker Mike Johnson reportedly indicated that Baird may have suffered a spinal injury.'They’re going to be okay, but they had a pretty bad accident.'Nevertheless, Baird, 80, "is expected to make a full recovery," his office said. "He is extraordinarily grateful for everyone’s prayers during this time."Fox News reported that Baird is "responsive and in stable condition." Details of when and where the crash took place remain unclear.RELATED: California Republican suddenly dies at age 65 Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty ImagesPresident Donald Trump expressed wishes for the Bairds' speedy recovery during an address to a House GOP legislative retreat at the newly renamed Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday."I also want to send our best wishes to Congressman Jim Baird and his wife, who are recovering from a car accident," Trump said. "They’re going to be okay, but they had a pretty bad accident, and we’re praying that they get out of that hospital very quickly."Reports about the car accident involving the Bairds came shortly after news broke that Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) died suddenly earlier this week after reportedly suffering an aneurysm and later a heart attack during surgery. He was 65.LaMalfa's death and the resignation of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) now leave Republicans with a slim 218-213 majority in the House.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Mamdani's Own Goal: Promising Cheap World Cup Tickets from the Wrong Side of the Hudson

Mary Katharine Ham's Video-Thread of Venezuelans BLASTING Trump-Hating Leftists Is GLORIOUS (Watch)

WTF?! Mollie Hemingway OWNS Mark Kelly for DESPERATE Fundraising Email for Himself ... and Kamala Harris

Oh DAMN! Katie Miller BODIES The Expert™ Tom Nichols for His Mean-Girl Comments About Her Husband (Watch)

For the Media, Venezuela Is Just a Word Game

Trump Offers Blueprint on How Republicans Can Win the Midterms and Future Elections

The "007" movies leaned into science fiction to create futuristic gadgets for James Bond. These inventions are some of those that eventually become real.