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Tech Abuse Hidden in Plain Sight: A New Threat
22 May
Summary
- Tech abuse, including stalkerware and tracking, is increasingly prevalent.
- Advocates urge the Domestic Abuse Act to explicitly include tech-enabled abuse.
- Smart devices are being weaponized to control and harass individuals.
Technology-facilitated abuse, also known as tech abuse, is becoming alarmingly common within domestic abuse contexts. Policy adviser Jen Reed highlighted that tools such as stalkerware, spyware, and tracking devices like AirTags are frequently used to harass, monitor, and control individuals. These methods can be as psychologically damaging as physical abuse.
Examples shared include smart fridges being manipulated to deny access to food and smart speakers remotely activated for distress. While the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 covers various forms of abuse, tech abuse is not explicitly defined, leading to it being treated as a secondary issue rather than a core component of domestic violence.
This oversight means that tech abuse is often categorized under online safety, potentially causing cases to be overlooked by frontline services. Reed emphasized that the normalization of tracking, particularly among younger generations who may see parental location sharing as standard, creates a dangerous environment when it escalates within intimate partner relationships.
