Domestic Violence Technology Facilitated Abuse
Over recent years NSWPF has seen an increase in technology facilitated abuse in domestic violence matters. Technology facilitated abuse is electronic communication which is used to bully, harass, stalk or intimidate a victim, making a victim feel scared or unsafe.
Types of technology abuse can include but are not limited to:
- Mobile phones - text messages/calls.
- Smart phone apps used to find the whereabouts of the victim, eg. Spyware can capture passwords, monitor calls, texts and emails and follow victim’s movements.
- Tablets/computers – checking/hacking email account and monitoring your internet usage.
- Social networking websites - harassing or threatening a victim or victim’s friends and family on sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
- Surveillance devices, eg. Trackers placed on a victim’s car.
- Revenge porn – where a nude or explicit image or video is shared without consent.
Some useful tips:
- Turn off the location tracker on your mobile phone
- Put passwords on all of your electronic devices and always log off or sign out.
- Increase privacy settings on social media
- Check that your next of kin details are up to date and no longer those of your ex partner.
- You can install and run security software on your electronic devices to detect apps which track your movements and record other personal information.
If you feel that you are a victim of technology facilitated abuse, which may constitute the offence of stalking, intimidation or revenge porn, report this to your local police. Do not delete anything until you have spoken to police. Take screen shots of any social media content as this information can easily be deleted remotely at anytime.