Tech Assisted Abuse: How smart devices can facilitate abuse

This month we speak to Dr Leonie Tanczer about her work looking at tech abuse: the use of “everyday” digital systems (computers, smartphones, apps) to coerce, control, and harm a person or groups of individuals. This is increasingly prevalent in the context of domestic abuse - around 85% of victims and survivors in the UK have been subjected to some form of tech abuse.

Links

• Refuge's Tech Safety resources: https://refugetechsafety.org/
• Refuge's Tech Safety smart home devices tool: https://refugetechsafety.org/hometech/
• Read more about Dr Tanczer and her work: https://www.leonietanczer.net/about.html
• Find out more about the Gender and Tech at UCL and sign up to the newsletter: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/computer-science/research/research-groups/gender-and-tech
• PI's guides to improve your own device security: https://privacyinternational.org/act
• UK MPs discuss smart tech and abuse: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/aug/07/uk-mps-warn-use-smart-tech-domestic-abuse
• Connected technology: MPs call on Government to tackle growing problem of tech-enabled domestic abuse: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/6686/connected-tech-smart-or-sinister/news/196867/connected-technology-mps-call-on-government-to-tackle-growing-problem-of-techenabled-domestic-abuse/