Domestic violence experts report a disturbing rise in abusive ex-partners tracking victims via mini devices and mobile apps.
Help at Hand, a social service funding tech to combat family violence, sees tracking devices as a major issue. Its general manager, Gavin Healy, says most refuges they support report them as problematic.
“They’re being found everywhere. They’re being found slipped in handbags, kids’ teddies – if they know there’s a toy the kid brings everywhere with them they’ll stick it in there, back of the car,” Healy said.
“We’ve also come across a situation where someone had access to the PlayStation and was actually able to turn the camera on the other side to see what was going on when the kids were playing.”
Healy cited a recent survey of 778 domestic violence survivors: 38% feared digital tracking by ex-partners, while 20% reported exes seizing control of their social media, bank accounts, or codes.
He added that phone apps are also enabling digital tracking.
“We’re just getting our heads around it, and the perpetrators are streaks ahead, but the data’s definitely there to show that this is becoming a really significant issue.”
Healy said Help at Hand is in early stages of partnering with frontline organisations to detect and curb digital tracking.
Women’s Refuge has found that over 80% of service users faced digital abuse via phones and tech, with 56% tracked and monitored. Principal policy advisor Dr Natalie Thorburn said mobile apps are the most common tracking tools.
“While occasionally we do have perpetrators who will use things like air tags or other associated GPS technology that are separate from their phones to stalk, to monitor, to keep an eye on their victims, most of the time it actually happens just as effectively using everyday technology,” she said.
“The apps you already have on your phone, the ones that you use on a regular basis, those things are actually far more likely to be maliciously utilised by perpetrators than any of the new technology.”