Christians are turning to worship apps like Pray.com to find solace and community during tough times. But the apps say users’ prayers are a business asset, and venture capitalists are lining up to invest. buzzfeednews.com/article/emilyb…
According to Pray.com’s privacy policy, the company records their users’ physical location, the links they click on, and the text of their posts. Then, it supplements that information with data from data brokers. buzzfeednews.com/article/emilyb…
Prior to an inquiry from BuzzFeed News, the privacy policy made no mention of the company purchasing files about its users from data brokers. Pray.com added the language following the inquiry. buzzfeednews.com/article/emilyb…
Privacy researcher Zach Edwards found that the app shares data about the content its users consume with several companies, including Facebook. This means users can be targeted with Facebook ads based on what they engage with on Pray.com. buzzfeednews.com/article/emilyb…
Some lawmakers are expressing concern about Pray.com’s privacy practices, like Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon. buzzfeednews.com/article/emilyb… 
This is not the first instance of a religious app profiting from their users’ data. Bible Gateway, one of the largest devotional apps on the market, has been making money by sharing its users’ information for years. buzzfeednews.com/article/emilyb…
It is common for free apps to profit from sharing their users’ data and to be vague about how and where they share it. But Pray.com users feel like the company’s data practices are at odds with the personal nature of prayer itself. buzzfeednews.com/article/emilyb…
As people turn to religious apps as a replacement for in-person church services, Silicon Valley investors are using it as an opportunity to capitalize on conversations with God. buzzfeednews.com/article/emilyb…
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
