What is Tech Abuse?
Technology is a significant part of our everyday lives.
When technology is used for harmful purposes, such as monitoring, tracking, harassment, or intimidation, it can contribute to family, domestic and sexual violence in the form of tech-based coercive control.
What is coercive control?
SubtitleCoercive control is a pattern of abusive behaviour designed to create power and dominance over another person, often through intimidation, threats, isolation and control.
The behaviour can be physical and non-physical and includes emotional, psychological, financial, and spiritual abuse.
The behaviour usually begins subtly and gradually escalates, which makes it hard to recognise as harmful.
How can tech be used to coercively control?
I am a so called subtitle.Any device that can be connected to the Internet can be used to monitor, track, harass or intimidate. Some common examples you may think of are mobile phones, computers, tablets and laptops.
‘Tech-enabled’ appliances found in your home, at work or in your car can also be used to coercively control. Think smart TVs, Bluetooth speakers, doorbell cameras, fridges, washing machines and even GPS tags that attach to your pet’s collar.
Any device that can reveal your location, capture images or audio without your knowledge, or be controlled remotely can be misused and put you at risk of tech-based coercive control.
Prevalence of tech-based coercive control in Victoria
I am a so called subtitle.Tech-based coercive control is difficult to measure in Victoria because it involves ongoing patterns of behaviour, whereas the current reporting system focuses on single incidents of family, domestic and/or sexual violence reported to Victoria Police.
Currently, there is no system in place in Victoria to identify or separate out family, domestic and/or sexual violence incidents that involve the use of technology.
Community perceptions in regional and rural Victoria
I am a so called subtitle.People living in regional and rural Victoria may be at increased risk of tech-based coercive control due to:
- Limited access to Public Transport
- A power imbalance is created when individuals rely on others for transportation.
- Reduced Financial and Digital Literacy Skills
- Recognising the signs of misused technology is more challenging if you don’t know what it ‘should’ look like; and dependence on the person using tech-based coercive control is increased.
- Limited access to publicly accessible ‘safe’ technology (that is, tech that can confidently be surveillance-free, or ‘bug-free’)
- People experiencing tech-based coercive control need a safe space with secure technology to access online information and contact support services. This is especially important in regional and rural areas, where face-to-face support services are limited.
- Limited access to place-based banking services
- Limited opportunities to deposit cash into a separate bank account for an escape plan force people to rely on internet banking.
- Limited access to Police stations
- Opportunities to report abuse to Police in person are limited due to reduced operational hours at regional and rural Police stations and geographical distances between stations. People in small communities may be reluctant to report tech-based abuse to their local Police station as officers may have existing relationships with the person using violence.
- Limited access to Public Transport
Coercive control in Victoria
Community Legal Centres
I am a so called subtitle.Community Legal Centres provide free, confidential legal help on family violence matters. They can help you understand your rights, your children’s rights, and what a parenting plan might look like. You can find your local contact here.
Report tech-based coercive control behaviour to Victoria Police
SubtitleThere are laws in place to protect people living in Victoria from family violence which includes tech-based coercive control. The current legislation that covers family violence in Victoria is the Family Violence Protection Act 2008.
If you are experiencing family violence, or concerned for someone who is, you can report family violence by:
- Contacting Triple Zero (000) if someone is in immediate physical danger; or · If there is no immediate physical danger, contacting your local Police station.
If you are uncomfortable reporting family violence to your local Police for any reason, you can approach any Police station in Victoria. There are dedicated Victoria Police Family Violence units operating throughout regional and rural Victoria who can also help.
If the person using violence is a current employee of Victoria Police, you can report it directly to the Victoria Police Sexual Offences and Family Violence Unit (SOFVU) by calling (03) 8335 6700 or emailing PSC-SOFVU-OIC@police.vic.gov.au You can also submit this online form.
If you are thinking of reporting to Police, consider having a friend, family member or support person with you. They could help in many ways, not just as emotional support whilst you make your report, but also by allowing you to use their phone to contact Police, providing transport to a Police station, or looking after your children whilst you are speaking with the Police.
Your local Family Violence case manager can also support you when you’re ready to contact the Police. To find Family Violence support service providers near you, contact The Orange Door.
There are other professional services available who can also provide you with advice before, during and after you make a report. The Victims of Crime helpline is available on 1800 819 817 every day between 8:00 am and 11:00 pm. Through their Victims Assistance Program, support workers are available to give you advice about reporting family violence to the Police and other agencies.
Report harmful online content to eSafety
eSafety helps remove serious online abuse, and illegal and restricted online content. The harmful content could be a post, comment, text, message, chat, livestream, meme, image, video or email. You can report online harms and find more information here.
For eSafety to investigate, the harmful content must have first been reported to the service or platform used to send, post or share it – before it’s reported to eSafety. This is often the fastest way to have the content removed. Information on what can be reported to eSafety, when and how, can be found here. The eSafety Guide explains how to report complaints to common services and platforms, including social media sites, online games and other apps.