UK MPs warn against growing use of smart tech in domestic abuse | Domestic violence

MPs have called on the UK government to tackle “tech abuse”, as they warned devices including smart home security systems were being used to coerce and control victims of domestic abuse.

The culture, media and sport committee launched an inquiry last year to consider the benefits and harms of connected technology, including virtual assistants and fitness trackers.

Evidence submitted to the committee suggested most domestic abuse cases in the UK now feature some sort of cyber element, where for instance a perpetrator can use spyware or other connected devices to monitor the movements of their victims.

The report calls on the government to tackle technology-facilitated abuse as a priority. It also notes that the criminal justice response to tech is “lacking”.

The recommendations include training police to respond better to tech abuse, and increasing awareness of specialist services tackling violence against women and girls.

As part of the report, the committee also calls for action to protect the privacy and rights of children, who are more connected than ever, at home and in school.

The committee has recommended that the government empowers users, particularly children, to exercise their rights over their personal data through intuitive product design, clearer terms and conditions and digital literacy schemes.

In June, the government announced it would amend the online safety bill to publish guidance for tech companies to ensure they reduce the abuse that women and girls face online on their platforms, including in the context of domestic violence.

Paul Scully, the minister for technology and the digital economy, said of the amendments to the bill: “This government will not allow the lives of our children to be put at stake whenever they go online; whether that is through facing abuse or viewing harmful content that could go on to have a devastating impact on their lives.”

Dame Caroline Dinenage, chair of the CMS committee, said: “The government must make it a priority to work with manufacturers to tackle this technology-facilitated abuse, which is only going to get worse in the future. The police and criminal justice system must be better equipped to deal with it, while victims should be properly supported.”

Refuge, a charity providing specialist support for women and children, submitted written evidence to the committee’s inquiry last year.

Emma Pickering, the senior operations tech abuse manager at Refuge, said: “Demand for our specialist tech-facilitated abuse team has risen exponentially since it was formed in 2017 and yet so many remain unaware about what tech-facilitated abuse is.

“We are pleased to see the culture, media and sport committee’s report calling for the government to tackle this issue and hope the government will follow the recommendations to make this a priority and work with Refuge and other specialists in the sector to ensure better outcomes for survivors of this crime.”

Pickering added: “Time and time again survivors tell us there is a lack of understanding as to how technology is weaponised against them by their perpetrators when they report to the police.”

A government spokesperson said ministers were investing “over £230m of funding to prevent offending, support victims and pursue perpetrators”.