After being removed from the Chinese app market last year, Hallow, the #1 prayer app, may soon be removed from the EU. The app is now facing a potential European shut down, likely due to regulation requirements with which it must comply or be forced out.
Founder of Hallow Alex Jones recently brought attention to the situation in a post on the social media platform X, where he began by reiterating his displeasure that China forced Hallow out of its marketplace. He then explained:
“The EU is shutting us down by over-regulation, apparently targeting any religious app, making it effectively impossible for us to operate in the EU,” Jones posted.
He went on to note that Hallow had been in the midst of planning an expansion of the app to include content in the Polish, French, German, and Italian languages. He lamented that if the app were to be forced to shut down, it would make such future expansions “essentially impossible.”
While it is unclear exactly what factors led the EU to its decision – and Jones is still playing the situation close to the vest – it could be in regards to the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which was activated in early 2023. The Act requires apps to make a public, biannual report on its user numbers, its data practices, and an explanation of how the content is managed. It is said to be stricter for the prayer app due to the religious nature of the sensitive data.
Jones has not indicated whether or not he intends to pursue legal means by which to challenge the decision, but he may have drawn support from those with the legal know-how to help out. The Christian Post noticed that Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International – a group that works to advance fundamental human rights like religious freedom – responded to Jones’ post by asking him to send them the details so they can take a look.
Only time will tell if Hallow will find a way to remain in Europe, but for now the future is looking bleak for the #1 prayer app.
