The Catholic Church in Scotland supports the prayer app Hallow, which faces uncertainty in the EU due to privacy regulations amidst controversy surrounding its celebrity promoter.
The Catholic Church in Scotland has expressed its support for a prayer app named Hallow, which has attracted attention due to its promotion by Russell Brand, who recently faced serious legal issues. Hallow, which is based in the United States, allows users to download the app for free, but also has a subscription option costing approximately £55 annually.
The app offers a variety of features, including audio-guided Bible stories, meditations, sleep aids, Christian music, and community prayer challenges. Hallow has partnered with several celebrities to broaden its reach, including actor Mark Wahlberg. Despite its success—having been downloaded over 22 million times since its launch in 2018—the future of the app in the European Union is uncertain. The CEO of Hallow, Alex Jones, revealed that the app may face closure within the EU due to privacy regulations, specifically related to the Digital Services Act (DSA) that came into effect in February 2023. This legislation restricts the processing of sensitive personal data, including religious beliefs, without explicit user consent.
In the wake of Russell Brand being charged with rape and other sexual offences, Hallow announced it would sever ties with him. Speaking to the Sunday Mail, Father Gerry Maguiness, a representative of the Catholic Church in Scotland, affirmed that they had no specific concerns regarding the app, stating, “Just being on the website, it is free. You can opt to buy the app. No difficulty with it.”
In a recent post on X, Jones lamented the potential ban of Hallow in the EU, claiming that over-regulation is targeting religious apps, which would hinder their operations. He emphasised the impact on their plans to expand content in languages such as Polish, French, Italian, and German, indicating that such efforts would become “essentially impossible” under these regulatory conditions.
As details surrounding the possible ban continue to emerge, the implications of these privacy concerns on Hallow and its user base remain to be fully understood. The app’s supporters maintain that it offers valuable spiritual resources while navigating the complexities of privacy legislation in the EU.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hallow-prayer-meditation/id1405323394 – This URL confirms Hallow as a prayer app offering various features like audio-guided sessions and community challenges, with the app being available for free download but also offering a subscription option. It also supports the claim that Hallow is a widely recognized Catholic app.
- https://hallow.com/features/ – This page lists Hallow’s features, including personalized prayer plans, downloadable sessions, and community sharing, which aligns with the information provided about the app’s functionality.
- https://hallow.com/affiliates/ – This URL highlights Hallow’s variety of daily meditations and its focus on Catholic prayer and spirituality, supporting the claim about its diverse prayer content.
- https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32022R2065 – This is the official EU legislation for the Digital Services Act (DSA), which came into effect in February 2023 and includes regulations on processing sensitive personal data, aligning with Hallow’s concerns about privacy regulations.
- https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_1450 – This EU press release discusses the implementation of the Digital Services Act, including how it affects online platforms and data processing, which relates to Hallow’s concerns about EU privacy regulations.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The content references recent events such as Russell Brand’s legal issues and the Digital Services Act (DSA) that came into effect in February 2023, indicating up-to-date information. However, the article does not provide any very recent or exclusive developments.
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
The quote from Father Gerry Maguiness was found in a recent Sunday Mail interview, but no earlier reference or source was provided for this exact quote. It appears to be recent, but verification of its original source is limited.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Daily Record, which is a well-established publication in Scotland, known for reliable reporting on local and national news.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about Hallow’s features, popularity, and potential EU regulations are plausible, especially given the context of privacy legislation like the DSA. The situation with Russell Brand’s involvement also aligns with real events.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative appears to be well-documented and in line with recent events. The involvement of known figures and the discussion around current legal issues like the DSA support its plausibility. However, there is room for improvement in verifying specific quotes and checking for the latest updates.
