What is GitHub’s role in the Bully Bai controversy?

In short, Bully Buy is a software application that simulates an online auction. However, it is not distributed through the Google or Apple App Stores, unlike most widely used apps. Instead, it is hosted on a code repository and software collaboration platform called GitHub. The app shows pictures of over 100 Muslim women taken from the internet and pretends to sell them through auctions. While auctions are fake, the word “bully” is a derogatory local slang. A similar app, Sully Deals, was also hosted on GitHub last year. Like the word bully, sulli is also a slur.

What is GitHub and how does it work?

GitHub is the largest code repository platform used by developers, startups, and even large technology companies to harness the efforts of the entire coding community to develop an app. Microsoft Corp., Meta Platforms Inc. (Facebook), and Google LLC make their code available on GitHub for others to use and develop. Microsoft bought GitHub for $7.5 billion in 2018 in one of its most expensive acquisitions ever. The platform also hosts the source code for Google’s Android operating system. Facebook provides software development kits for both its Android and iOS apps on GitHub.

So, what is GitHub’s role in the controversy?

GitHub has rules against harassment, discrimination, and incitement to violence. It has removed the accounts hosting the app, but its hosting facility is not for mass distribution. Apps downloaded from GitHub are not finished products, and can often contain bugs. But unlike social media, GitHub does not have a filtering algorithm.

What do code repositories do?

Code repositories are there to help with development around the world. For example, developers can download the source code for Android and use it to build their own version. A startup can quickly get code that will help them add a new feature to their app or service through a code repository. In March, GitHub stated that India is the fastest growing country in terms of new developers contributing to open source coding. The code used to host fake auctions on Bully Buy could theoretically be used to create a legitimate and useful auction app.

Can the law stop this kind of abuse?

Regulations may not help prevent such incidents, but they can certainly speed up the investigation process. Since many tech firms are based overseas, the police have to use the arduous Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty process to obtain information involving multiple foreign ministries. This is one of the reasons why India’s upcoming Data Protection Bill (DPB) stresses on storing some data within the country’s borders, so that it can be accessed quickly when needed. That said, bills like DPB are unlikely to shut down apps like Bully Bye in the future.