Survey explores impact of technology-facilitated abuse

A study is under way to investigate how 'smart' devices may be helping to facilitate domestic abuse in Australia and the United Kingdom. A team from The University of Queensland , Queensland University of Technology and University College London is examining how domestic and sexual violence survivors are being impacted by Internet of Things (IoT) technology, which enables everyday devices to collect, send and receive data. UQ Law School 's Professor Heather Douglas said lawyers, health and social workers and counsellors were being urged to share their insights via a survey. "The interconnection of everyday devices via the Internet - including 'smart' objects such as TVs, fitness trackers and smartphones - is helpful, but in the wrong hands these devices can pose serious security and privacy risks,' Professor Douglas said. "An example that I've come across is a perpetrator remotely altering the position of a security camera so they can watch a victim-survivor. "The IoT can also aid perpetrators with monitoring victim-survivors through appliances and systems in residences. "The risks of IoT technology are ever-changing, and technology-facilitated abuse is evolving with it.' QUT Faculty of Law's Dr Bridget Harris said domestic violence perpetrators often used technology to coerce, control and entrap.